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
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lilts
Noun
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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
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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
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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
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The color palette was inspired by the surrounding environment and features earthy tones such as cream, sand, dark moss, sky blue, and accents of pink and earthy yellow.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
20 May 2026
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You're greeted by an industrial space that's warmed up by wooden accents and sunny yellow accent pieces and of course the inviting scent of coconut curry wafting through the air.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
Noun
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More than a decade later, hantavirus cruise passengers are experiencing some of the same rhythms of confinement Brantly remembers from his time inside Emory’s isolation unit.—
Rebecca Cohen,
NBC news,
17 May 2026
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Even the rhythms of the editing feel very 1990s, which no doubt help this appeal to older millennial dads nostalgic for their wilder years.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Is that panic, when the flute trills high?—
Linnie Greene,
Pitchfork,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While Perseverance hums along at a feature known as the Jezero crater, about 2,300 miles East the Curiosity rover has been exploring the ancient Gale Crater since 2012.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
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Once a sleepy town, Hudson has reinvented itself as a trend-forward haunt that draws New Yorkers seeking tranquility—yet still hums with a lively energy.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Lilts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lilts. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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