onomatopoeia
noun
the formation of a word, as cuckoo, meow, honk, or boom, by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent.
onomatopoeic
-
a word derived from
onomatopoeia.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
To the Nolan fanboys, the “Batman” television series’ creators made West carry shark repellent and throw onomatopoeic punches because they didn’t understand what it meant to be Batman.
From Salon ● Jan. 23, 2026
“First of all, I love onomatopoeic language,” she says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2025
Its call is like its name: an onomatopoeic “fee bee.”
From New York Times ● Jun. 2, 2023
Are there other heretofore unknown Star Wars animals whose names are just a normal Earth mammal plus an onomatopoeic word for beating on something that begins with a “W?”
From Slate ● Mar. 14, 2018
The context helped, but more than that, the word was at one with its meaning, and was almost onomatopoeic.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
