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Definition of onomatopoeia

onomatopoeia

/ˌɑːnəmætəˈpiːə/
on · o · mat · o · poe · ia
Adverb:onomatopoeically
•
Plural:onomatopoeias
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Adjective:onomatopoeic
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onomatopoeia Lexical Profile

onomatopoeia Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named, or the rhetorical use of such words for literary effect.

Example

"The poet used onomatopoeia throughout the stanza to evoke the crashing of ocean waves."

2

A word that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound that it describes, such as 'buzz', 'sizzle', or 'cuckoo'.

Example

"Comic books frequently rely on bold, colorful onomatopoeias to illustrate action scenes."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for onomatopoeia

• Rhymes for onomatopoeia

• Nearby Words

onlooker
onlooking
only
onomatopoeia
onomatopoeically
onon
onrush

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 16th century via Late Latin from Ancient Greek 'onomatopoiia', meaning 'the making of a name or word', derived from 'onoma' (name) and 'poiein' (to make).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Onomatopoeia. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/onomatopoeia
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