sound

A sound is a noise, something you can hear if you're in the right spot and it's loud enough. A doorbell, a fire alarm, a cat's meow, or your brother's snoring — they’re all sounds.

Long Island Sound is another kind of sound — it’s a branch of the Atlantic Ocean that runs between Connecticut and Long Island, New York. When you don’t know a word, you might sound out the syllables — say them aloud — to figure out the pronunciation. Sound can also mean "solid or good." Sound advice is good advice. Sound investments are secure. When you have a sound sleep, it's restful and uninterrupted — at least until your alarm sounds.

Definitions of sound

noun
mechanical vibrations transmitted by an elastic medium

“falling trees make a sound in the forest even when no one is there to hear them”

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types:
ultrasound
very high frequency sound; used in ultrasonography

type of:
mechanical phenomenon
a physical phenomenon associated with the equilibrium or motion of objects
noun
the subjective sensation of hearing something

“he strained to hear the faint sounds”

synonyms: auditory sensation

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types:
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euphony, music
any agreeable (pleasing and harmonious) sounds

music
(music) the sounds produced by singers or musical instruments (or reproductions of such sounds)

pure tone, tone
a steady sound without overtones

dissonance, noise, racket
the auditory experience of sound that lacks musical quality; sound that is a disagreeable auditory experience

dub
the new sounds added by dubbing

piano music
the sound of music produced by a piano

music of the spheres
an inaudible music that Pythagoras thought was produced by the celestial

harmonic
a tone that is a component of a complex sound

type of:
aesthesis, esthesis, sensation, sense datum, sense experience, sense impression
an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
noun
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

“the sound of rain on the roof”

“the beautiful sound of music”

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Antonyms:
quiet, silence
the absence of sound

types:
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noisiness, racketiness
the auditory effect characterized by loud and constant noise

ring
a characteristic sound

unison
(music) two or more sounds or tones at the same pitch or in octaves

voice
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

androglossia
a woman's voice with male qualities

boisterousness
the property of being noisy and lively and unrestrained

type of:
sound property
an attribute of sound
noun
the sudden occurrence of an audible event

“the sound awakened them”

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types:
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bong
a dull resonant sound as of a bell

beat
the sound of stroke or blow

beep, bleep
a short high tone produced as a signal or warning

bell, toll
the sound of a bell being struck

bombilation, bombination, buzz
sound of rapid vibration

chink, click, clink
a short light metallic sound

chirp
a sharp sound made by small birds or insects

chirrup, twitter
a series of chirps

chorus
any utterance produced simultaneously by a group

click-clack
a succession of clicks

clip-clop, clippety-clop, clop, clopping, clumping, clunking
the sound of a horse's hoofs hitting on a hard surface

cry
the characteristic utterance of an animal

ding
a ringing sound

drip, dripping
the sound of a liquid falling drop by drop

drum
the sound of a drum

footfall, footstep, step
the sound of a step of someone walking

gargle
the sound produced while gargling

gurgle
the bubbling sound of water flowing from a bottle with a narrow neck

jangle, jingle
a metallic sound

knock, knocking
the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)

murmur, murmuration, murmuring, mussitation, mutter, muttering
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech

noise
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)

drum roll, paradiddle, roll
the sound of a drum (especially a snare drum) beaten rapidly and continuously

pat, rap, tap
the sound made by a gentle blow

patter
a quick succession of light rapid sounds

peal, pealing, roll, rolling
a deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells)

ping
a sharp high-pitched resonant sound (as of a sonar echo or a bullet striking metal)

plunk
a hollow twanging sound

pop, popping
a sharp explosive sound as from a gunshot or drawing a cork

purr
a low vibrating sound typical of a contented cat

quack
the harsh sound of a duck

quaver
a tremulous sound

ring, ringing, tintinnabulation
the sound of a bell ringing

drumbeat, rataplan, rub-a-dub
the sound made by beating a drum

sigh
a sound like a person sighing

skirl
the sound of (the chanter of) a bagpipe

song
a distinctive or characteristic sound

strum
sound of strumming

susurration, susurrus
the indistinct sound of people whispering

swish
a brushing or rustling sound

tapping
the sound of light blow or knock

throbbing
a sound with a strong rhythmic beat

clump, clunk, thud, thump, thumping
a heavy dull sound (as made by impact of heavy objects)

thrum
a thrumming sound

thunk
a dull hollow sound

tick, ticking
a metallic tapping sound

ting, tinkle
a light clear metallic sound as of a small bell

toot
a blast of a horn

tootle
the sound of casual playing on a musical instrument

trample, trampling
the sound of heavy treading or stomping

twang
a sharp vibrating sound (as of a plucked string)

vibrato
(music) a pulsating effect in an instrumental or vocal tone produced by slight and rapid variations in pitch

voice
a sound suggestive of a vocal utterance

vroom
the roaring sound made by a motor that is running at high speed

whack
the sound made by a sharp swift blow

birr, whir, whirr, whirring
sound of something in rapid motion

whistle, whistling
the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture

whiz
a buzzing or hissing sound as of something traveling rapidly through the air

zing
a brief high-pitched buzzing or humming sound

zizz
a buzzing or whizzing sound

baa
the cry made by sheep

bam, bang, blast, clap, eruption
a sudden very loud noise

banging
a continuing very loud noise

bark
the sound made by a dog

bark
a noise resembling the bark of a dog

bay
the sound of a hound on the scent

blare, blaring, cacophony, clamor, clamour, din
a loud harsh or strident noise

boom, roar, roaring, thunder
a deep prolonged loud noise

bleat
the sound of sheep or goats (or any sound resembling this)

bray
the cry of a donkey

cackle
the sound made by a hen after laying an egg

caterwaul
the yowling sound made by a cat

caw
the sound made by corvine birds

chatter, chattering
the high-pitched continuing noise made by animals (birds or monkeys)

chatter, chattering
the rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine

cheep, peep
the short weak cry of a young bird

chug
the dull explosive noise made by an engine

clack, clap
a sharp abrupt noise as if two objects hit together; may be repeated

clang, clangor, clangoring, clangour, clank, clash, crash
a loud resonant repeating noise

clatter
a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)

clickety-clack, clickety-click
a fast and rhythmic click-clack

cluck, clucking
the sound made by a hen (as in calling her chicks)

coo
the sound made by a pigeon

crack, cracking, snap
a sudden sharp noise

crackle, crackling, crepitation
the sharp sound of snapping noises

creak, creaking
a squeaking sound

crow
the cry of a rooster (or an imitation of it)

crunch
the sound of something crunching

ding-dong
the noise made by a bell

explosion
the noise caused by an explosion

gobble
the characteristic sound made by a turkey cock

grate
a harsh rasping sound made by scraping something

grinding
a harsh and strident sound (as of the grinding of gears)

growl, growling
the sound of growling (as made by animals)

grunt, oink
the short low gruff noise of the kind made by hogs

fizzle, hiss, hissing, hushing, sibilation
a fricative sound (especially as an expression of disapproval)

honk
the cry of a goose (or any sound resembling this)

howl
a loud sustained noise resembling the cry of a hound

howl
the long plaintive cry of a hound or a wolf

brouhaha, hubbub, katzenjammer, uproar
loud confused noise from many sources

hum, humming
a humming noise

knell
the sound of a bell rung slowly to announce a death or a funeral or the end of something

meow, mew, miaou, miaow, miaul
the sound made by a cat (or any sound resembling this)

moo
the sound made by a cow or bull

neigh, nicker, whicker, whinny
the characteristic sounds made by a horse

pant
the noise made by a short puff of steam (as from an engine)

pitter-patter
a series of rapid tapping sounds

plonk
the noise of something dropping (as into liquid)

plop
the noise of a rounded object dropping into a liquid without a splash

plump
the sound of a sudden heavy fall

racket
a loud and disturbing noise

rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat-tat, rat-tat
a series of short sharp taps (as made by strokes on a drum or knocks on a door)

rale, rattle, rattling
a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)

report
a sharp explosive sound (especially the sound of a gun firing)

rhonchus
a sound like whistling or snoring that is heard with a stethoscope during expiration as air passes through obstructed channels

roar
the sound made by a lion

grumble, grumbling, rumble, rumbling
a loud low dull continuous noise

rustle, rustling, whisper, whispering
a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind

scrape, scraping, scratch, scratching
a harsh noise made by scraping

scream, screaming, screech, screeching, shriek, shrieking
a high-pitched noise resembling a human cry

scrunch
a crunching noise

shrilling
a continuing shrill noise

sizzle
a sizzling noise

slam
the noise made by the forceful impact of two objects

snap
the noise produced by the rapid movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand

snore
the rattling noise produced when snoring

spatter, spattering, splatter, splattering, splutter, sputter, sputtering
the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively

plash, splash
the sound like water splashing

squawk
the noise of squawking

squeak
a short high-pitched noise

squelch, squish
the noise of soft mud being walked on

stridulation
a shrill grating or chirping noise made by some insects by rubbing body parts together

swoosh, whoosh
the noise produced by the sudden rush of a fluid (a gas or liquid)

thunder
a booming or crashing noise caused by air expanding along the path of a bolt of lightning

ticktock, tictac, tocktact
steady recurrent ticking sound as made by a clock

tramp
a heavy footfall

tweet
a weak chirping sound as of a small bird

tremolo
vocal vibrato especially an excessive or poorly controlled one

yelp, yelping, yip
a sharp high-pitched cry (especially by a dog)

angelus, angelus bell
the sound of a bell rung in Roman Catholic churches to announce the time when the Angelus should be recited

bell ringing
the sound of someone playing a set of bells

staccato
a series of sharp, distinct sounds

type of:
happening, natural event, occurrence, occurrent
an event that happens
noun
the audible part of a transmitted signal

synonyms: audio

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type of:
auditory communication
communication that relies on hearing
noun
(phonetics) an individual sound unit of speech without concern as to whether or not it is a phoneme of some language

synonyms: phone, speech sound

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types:
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phoneme
(linguistics) one of a small set of speech sounds that are distinguished by the speakers of a particular language

vowel, vowel sound
a speech sound made with the vocal tract open

glide, semivowel
a vowellike sound that serves as a consonant

consonant
a speech sound that is not a vowel

orinasal, orinasal phone
a speech sound produced with both the oral and nasal passages open (as French nasal vowels)

sonant, voiced sound
a speech sound accompanied by sound from the vocal cords

allophone
(linguistics) any of various acoustically different forms of the same phoneme

ablaut
a vowel whose quality or length is changed to indicate linguistic distinctions (such as sing sang sung song)

diphthong
a vowel sound that starts near the articulatory position for one vowel and moves toward the position for another

schwa, shwa
a neutral middle vowel; occurs in unstressed syllables

stem vowel, thematic vowel
a vowel that ends a stem and precedes an inflection

palatal
a semivowel produced with the tongue near the palate (like the initial sound in the English word `yeast')

alveolar, alveolar consonant, dental, dental consonant
a consonant articulated with the tip of the tongue near the gum ridge

obstruent
a consonant that is produced with a partial or complete blockage of the airflow from the lungs through the nose or mouth

aspirate
a consonant pronounced with aspiration

labial, labial consonant
a consonant whose articulation involves movement of the lips

labiodental, labiodental consonant
a consonant whose articulation involves the lips and teeth

nasal, nasal consonant
a consonant produced through the nose with the mouth closed

lingual
a consonant that is produced with the tongue and other speech organs

liquid
a frictionless continuant that is not a nasal consonant (especially `l' and `r')

geminate
a doubled or long consonant

surd, voiceless consonant
a consonant produced without sound from the vocal cords

velar, velar consonant
a consonant produced with the back of the tongue touching or near the soft palate

guttural, guttural consonant, pharyngeal, pharyngeal consonant
a consonant articulated in the back of the mouth or throat

type of:
language unit, linguistic unit
one of the natural units into which linguistic messages can be analyzed
verb
make a certain noise or sound

synonyms: go

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types:
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snarl
make a snarling noise or move with a snarling noise

sing, whistle
make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound

blow
make a sound as if blown

ting
make a light, metallic sound; go `ting'

make noise, noise, resound
emit a noise

splat
give off the sound of a bullet flattening on impact

twang
sound with a twang

clang, clangor, clangour
make a loud noise

clank
make a clank

clangor, clangour
make a loud resonant noise

boom, boom out
make a deep hollow sound

beat, drum, thrum
make a rhythmic sound

rattle
make short successive sounds

beat, tick, ticktack, ticktock
make a sound like a clock or a timer

resonate, vibrate
sound with resonance

crash
make a sudden loud sound

tweet, twirp
make a weak, chirping sound

skirl
make a shrill, wailing sound

gurgle
make sounds similar to gurgling water

glug
make a gurgling sound as of liquid issuing from a bottle

blow
sound by having air expelled through a tube

whish
make a sibilant sound

guggle
make a sound like a liquid that is being poured from a bottle

ping
make a short high-pitched sound

knock, ping, pink
sound like a car engine that is firing too early

trump
produce a sound as if from a trumpet

squelch
make a sucking sound

chug
make a dull, explosive sound

peal, ring
sound loudly and sonorously

bombilate, bombinate, buzz
make a buzzing sound

chime
emit a sound

rustle
make a dry crackling sound

crack, snap
make a sharp sound

crack
make a very sharp explosive sound

beep, blare, claxon, honk, toot
make a loud noise

whistle
make whistling sounds

echo, resound, reverberate, ring
ring or echo with sound

thud, thump
make a dull sound

clop, clump, clunk, plunk
make or move along with a sound as of a horse's hooves striking the ground

patter, pitter-patter
make light, rapid and repeated sounds

knock, pink, rap, tap
make light, repeated taps on a surface

click, tick
make a clicking or ticking sound

chatter, click
click repeatedly or uncontrollably

pop
make a sharp explosive noise

chink, clink, tink, tinkle
make or emit a high sound

slosh, slush, splash, splosh
make a splashing sound

hum, thrum
sound with a monotonous hum

bleep
emit a single short high-pitched signal

grumble, rumble
make a low noise

boom, din
make a resonant sound, like artillery

bang
to produce a sharp often metallic explosive or percussive sound

babble, bubble, burble, guggle, gurgle, ripple
flow in an irregular current with a bubbling noise

lap, swish, swoosh, swosh
move with or cause to move with a whistling or hissing sound

drone
make a monotonous low dull sound

birr, purr, whir, whirr, whiz, whizz
make a soft swishing sound

roll
emit, produce, or utter with a deep prolonged reverberating sound

sizzle
make a sound like frying fat

howl, roar
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles

purl, sough
make a murmuring sound

make vibrant sounds, purr
indicate pleasure by purring; characteristic of cats

claxon, honk
use the horn of a car

hum
make a low continuous sound

crackle, crunch, scranch, scraunch
make a crushing noise

creak, screak, screech, skreak, squeak, whine
make a high-pitched, screeching noise

racket
make loud and annoying noises

brattle, clack, clatter
make a rattling sound

clitter, stridulate
make a shrill creaking noise by rubbing together special bodily structures

drown out
make imperceptible

jangle, jingle, jingle-jangle
make a sound typical of metallic objects

scream
make a loud, piercing sound

backfire
emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire

ruckle
make a hoarse, rattling sound

crackle, crepitate
make a crackling sound

ring out
sound loudly

ding, dingdong, dong
go `ding dong', like a bell

tintinnabulate
ring or sound like a small bell

peal
ring recurrently

knell
ring as in announcing death

blare, blast
make a strident sound

tootle
play (a musical instrument) casually

consonate
sound in sympathy

reecho
repeat or return an echo again or repeatedly; send (an echo) back

reecho
echo repeatedly, echo again and again

bong
ring loudly and deeply

sputter
make an explosive sound

type of:
cause to be perceived
have perceptible qualities
verb
give off a certain sound or sounds

“This record sounds scratchy”

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types:
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cackel
make a cackling sound

play
emit recorded sound

dissonate
be dissonant or harsh

pierce
sound sharply or shrilly

speak
make a characteristic or natural sound
verb
cause to sound

“sound the bell”

“sound a certain note”

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types:
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play
perform music on (a musical instrument)

blow
play or sound a wind instrument

twang
cause to sound with a twang

prepare
lead up to and soften by sounding the dissonant note in it as a consonant note in the preceding chord

gong
sound a gong

ting
cause to make a ting

strum, thrum
sound the strings of (a string instrument)

knell, ring
make (bells) ring, often for the purposes of musical edification

pop
cause to make a sharp explosive sound

clink
make a high sound typical of glass

register
manipulate the registers of an organ

skirl
play the bagpipes

beat
produce a rhythm by striking repeatedly

tweedle
play negligently on a musical instrument

chord
play chords on (a string instrument)

pipe
play on a pipe

drum
play a percussion instrument

harp
play the harp

fiddle
play the violin or fiddle

trumpet
play or blow on the trumpet

clarion
blow the clarion

toll
ring slowly
verb
announce by means of a sound

“sound the alarm”

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type of:
announce, denote
make known; make an announcement
verb
utter with vibrating vocal chords

synonyms: vocalise, vocalize, voice

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Antonyms:
devoice
utter with tense vocal chords

types:
chirk
make a shrill creaking, squeaking, or noise, as of a door, mouse, or bird

quaver, waver
give off unsteady sounds, alternating in amplitude or frequency

type of:
articulate, enounce, enunciate, pronounce, say, sound out
speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way
verb
appear in a certain way

“This sounds interesting”

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type of:
appear, look, seem
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
noun
a narrow channel of the sea joining two larger bodies of water

synonyms: strait

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examples:
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Canakkale Bogazi
the strait between the Aegean and the Sea of Marmara that separates European Turkey from Asian Turkey

East River
a tidal strait separating Manhattan and the Bronx from Queens and Brooklyn

Bering Strait
a strait connecting the Bering Sea to the Arctic Ocean

Bosporus
a strait connecting the Mediterranean and the Black Sea; separates the European and Asian parts of Turkey; an important shipping route

Cook Strait
a narrow strait separating the North Island and South Island in New Zealand

Golden Gate
a strait in western California that connects the San Francisco Bay with the Pacific Ocean; discovered in 1579 by Sir Francis Drake

Kattegatt
a strait of the North Sea between Jutland and Sweden; connects with the North Sea through the Skagerrak

Korean Strait
a strait between Korea and Japan; connects the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan

Menai Strait
a strait in northern Wales between Anglesey Island and the mainland

North Channel
a strait between Northern Ireland and Scotland that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea

Skagerrak
a broad strait of the North Sea between Jutland and Norway

Solent
a strait of the English Channel between the coast of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

Strait of Georgia
the strait separating Vancouver Island from the Canadian mainland

Strait of Gibraltar
the strait between Spain and Africa

Strait of Hormuz
a strategically important strait linking the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman

Strait of Magellan
the strait separating South America from Tierra del Fuego and other islands to the south of the continent; discovered by Ferdinand Magellan in 1520; an important route around South America before the Panama Canal was built

Strait of Messina
the strait separating Sicily from the tip of Italy

Strait of Calais
the strait between the English Channel and the North Sea; shortest distance between England and the European continent

Torres Strait
a strait between northeastern Australia and southern New Guinea that connects the Coral Sea with the Arafura Sea

types:
narrow
a narrow strait connecting two bodies of water

type of:
channel
a deep and relatively narrow body of water (as in a river or a harbor or a strait linking two larger bodies) that allows the best passage for vessels
noun
a large ocean inlet or deep bay

“the main body of the sound ran parallel to the coast”

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examples:
Long Island Sound
a sound between Long Island and Connecticut

Puget Sound
an inlet of the North Pacific in northwestern Washington State

Queen Charlotte Sound
an inlet of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of British Columbia

type of:
body of water, water
the part of the earth's surface covered with water (such as a river or lake or ocean)
verb
measure the depth of (a body of water) with a sounding line

synonyms: fathom

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type of:
measure, quantify
express as a number or measure or quantity
adjective
in good condition; free from defect or damage or decay

“a sound timber”

“the wall is sound”

“a sound foundation”

Synonyms:
solid, strong, substantial
of good quality and condition; solidly built

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Antonyms:
unsound
not in good condition; damaged or decayed

corroded
eaten away as by acid or oxidation

decayed, rotted, rotten
damaged by decay; hence unsound and useless

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adjective
in excellent physical condition

“a sound mind in a sound body”

synonyms: good

healthy
having or indicating good health in body or mind; free from infirmity or disease
adjective
free from moral defect

“a man of sound character”

Synonyms:
righteous
characterized by or proceeding from accepted standards of morality or justice
adjective
exercising or showing good judgment

“a sound approach to the problem”

“sound advice”

“no sound explanation for his decision”

synonyms: healthy, intelligent, level-headed, levelheaded

reasonable, sensible
showing reason or sound judgment
adjective
financially secure and safe

“sound investments”

“a sound economy”

Synonyms:
unbroken
not broken; whole and intact; in one piece

undamaged
not harmed or spoiled; sound

fit
physically and mentally sound or healthy

healthy
having or indicating good health in body or mind; free from infirmity or disease

uninjured
not injured physically or mentally

dependable, good, safe, secure
financially sound

healthy
financially secure and functioning well

solid
financially sound

stable
firm and dependable; subject to little fluctuation

wholesome
conducive to or characteristic of physical or moral well-being

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Antonyms:
unsound
not sound financially

broken
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

damaged
harmed or injured or spoiled

unfit
not in good physical or mental condition; out of condition

unhealthy
not in or exhibiting good health in body or mind

injured
harmed

bad, high-risk, risky, speculative
not financially safe or secure

long
involving substantial risk

wildcat
outside the bounds of legitimate or ethical business practices

unwholesome
detrimental to physical or moral well-being

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adjective
logically valid

“a sound argument”

synonyms: reasoned, well-grounded

valid
well grounded in logic or truth or having legal force
adjective
having legal efficacy or force

“a sound title to the property”

synonyms: effectual, legal

valid
well grounded in logic or truth or having legal force
adjective
thorough

Synonyms:
complete
having every necessary or normal part or component or step
adjective
(of sleep) deep and complete

“a sound sleeper”

synonyms: heavy, profound, wakeless

deep
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

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