as in cadences
the attractive quality of speech or music that rises and falls in a pleasing pattern
There was a charming lilt to her voice. a tune with a lilt
Related Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lilts
Noun
-
Other than that, the differences in the format were small, distracting only because of how ingrained the cadences of the original are.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Mar. 2026 -
One Battle After Another’s Kubrickian overtones are largely confined to Lockjaw’s story line — quite appropriate, as Kubrick was fascinated by how attempts to preserve power structures allowed murder to creep into the seemingly benign cadences of ordinary life.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Richard Marx croons his way onto Billboard’s jazz charts for the first time in a career as a lead recording artist that dates back almost 40 years.—
Gary Trust,
Billboard,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Murray — beloved for iconic roles in Groundhog Day, Ghostbusters, Caddyshack and other films — croons spirited renditions of timeless songs, from Bob Dylan to the Kinks to Tommy Tutone.—
Travis Pinson,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Only 2200 of them remain, having staved off swells of economic uncertainty, retaining their Irish accents and ways of life.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Clay vases, red rugs and white stone accents adorn the space.—
Jenna Thompson
April 1,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Photographer Julia Gunther and writer-filmmaker Nick Schönfeld have made multiple trips to Tristan da Cunha since 2023 to chronicle the rhythms of daily life.—
NPR,
NPR,
4 Apr. 2026
-
With thousands of fragments still to be studied and more likely buried beneath the surface, Athribis continues to reshape what is known about the rhythms of daily life in ancient Egypt.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Is that panic, when the flute trills high?—
Linnie Greene,
Pitchfork,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Your neighbor might rely on an oxygen concentrator to breathe – a machine the size of a carry-on bag that hums quietly through the night.—
Katherine Asmussen,
The Conversation,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The group hums in agreement, offering dispatches from their own lives about thorny friendships.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Lilts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lilts. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
