tony
English meaning: Tony
Definition
Stylish, high-toned, upscale.
Example
“The gala was held at one of the city's most tony hotels.”
Another example: “They moved into a tony part of town with tree-lined streets.”
Usage — When, Where & How
An informal-to-literary adjective meaning fashionable, upscale, or high-class ('a tony neighbourhood'). Chiefly American and somewhat dated or journalistic in tone. More familiar as a first name and as the name of the Broadway theatre award.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
An American coinage from 'tone' (style, high quality) plus '-y'; recorded in the late 19th century.
Synonyms
- stylish
- upscale
- fashionable
- posh
- swanky
Antonyms / Opposites
- shabby
- downmarket
- seedy
Related Words
- blair
- stark
- abbott
- bennett
- desk
- skater
- soprano
- hawk
- curtis
- anthony
Common Collocations
- tony neighbourhood
- tony restaurant
- tony suburb
- tony address
- tony resort
Word Forms
tony (adj); tonier (comp); toniest (superl)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B