Sonorous means having a deep, full, rich sound that resonates powerfully. When a grandfather clock chimes in a quiet hallway, that deep, reverberating bong is sonorous. When a judge announces a verdict in a courtroom, their voice might be sonorous: deep, clear, and commanding attention.

The word describes sounds that seem to fill a space and linger in the air. A cello produces sonorous tones, while a piccolo does not. Thunder rumbling across the sky is sonorous. A large church bell has a sonorous ring that you can feel in your chest, not just hear with your ears.

Sonorous voices tend to be lower in pitch and carry well. Think of James Earl Jones as Darth Vader, or a skilled storyteller whose voice draws everyone closer. People with sonorous voices often become radio announcers, narrators, or public speakers because their voices command attention naturally.

The word can also describe language that sounds impressive and grand, even if it's not particularly deep in pitch. A sonorous speech uses words and rhythms that sound important and dignified, though sometimes people use sonorous sarcastically to suggest that fancy-sounding words are covering up weak ideas.