Tony
7 synonyms for Tony, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Fashionable and upscale; high-toned.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use Tony
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
win a Tony
a tony address
a tony restaurant
Etymology
The award is named after Antoinette "Tony" Perry, a co-founder of the American Theatre Wing. The adjective sense is a separate use of the name Tony, from "high-toned."
Full origin of Tony →Frequently asked questions
What does “Tony” mean?
The word “Tony” means fashionable and upscale; high-toned. In plain terms, either the Broadway theatre award, or an informal adjective for something posh and stylish.
How do you pronounce “Tony”?
“Tony” is pronounced TOH-nee (/ˈtoʊni/ in IPA).
How do you use “Tony” in a sentence?
Here is “Tony” used in a sentence: “They moved into a tony neighbourhood near the coast.”
What part of speech is “Tony”?
Depending on how it is used, “Tony” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “Tony” a common word?
“Tony” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Tony” have?
“Tony” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: fashionable and upscale; high-toned.
What is the difference between tony and posh?
Both describe something upscale and fashionable, but tony is chiefly American and often used of neighbourhoods, hotels or shops that project wealth and style. Posh is more common in British English and can describe people and accents as well as places. In practice they mean much the same: smart, expensive and high-class.
What is an example of tony?
You might read about 'a tony address in Manhattan', 'a tony private school', or 'the city's toniest restaurant'. The word paints a picture of money, fashion and exclusivity, so it suits smart hotels, expensive shopping streets and well-heeled suburbs. It is nearly always used approvingly, suggesting a place worth being seen in.
Is tony a formal or informal word?
Tony is fairly informal and slightly journalistic, popular in lifestyle writing, property listings and reviews rather than formal prose. It carries a light, approving tone, hinting that a place is chic and expensive. In more formal writing you would more likely see 'upscale', 'exclusive' or 'fashionable' in its place.
Related words
Newton Tony
