contrapuntal

adjective

con·​tra·​pun·​tal ˌkän-trə-ˈpən-tᵊl How to pronounce contrapuntal (audio)
1
2
: of, relating to, or marked by counterpoint
contrapuntally adverb

Examples of contrapuntal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
In addition to Yasin’s essay, The Key published two poems by poet and journalist Tamara Nassar and a beautiful essay on the contrapuntal and living between two world’s by poet and translator Alaa Alqaisi. James Folta, Literary Hub, 11 Mar. 2026 Then-current neoclassicism is evident in bright scorings — for double winds and brass, strings and timpani — and patches of contrapuntal business. Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026 The bidding has a pace and a rhythm that are almost contrapuntal. Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026 Devoted to the contrapuntal wonders of Bach, the classicism of Mozart and the astonishment of Beethoven, Schoenberg began his career by mending the major divide of his own early years, that of Wagner the futurist and Brahms the keeper of tradition. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for contrapuntal

Word History

Etymology

Italian contrappunto counterpoint, from Medieval Latin contrapunctus — more at counterpoint entry 1

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of contrapuntal was in 1816

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contrapuntal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contrapuntal. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster