Definition of high-hatnext
1
2

high-hat

2 of 3

verb

high hat

3 of 3

noun

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of high-hat
Adjective
The sand crackling against the screen door became a high-hat drum. Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025 Over the last few years, a bevy of high-hat hotels have begun competing for the Big Apple’s best guests. Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2025 The bass, high-hat, guitar, and vocals all remain distinct in this busy mix and benefit from strong detail when the track fully kicks in. PCMAG, 10 July 2024
Noun
Listen to Pete’s old s—t, it was formulated, the high hats, the horn. Angel Diaz, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2025 Instead of high hats, use wall washers, which bounce light off the walls and space. Adam Shell, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025 Carter Beauford, perhaps the most unheralded drummer in music, busied himself with syncopated patterns and dizzying high hat on the song. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2024 Deja stifled a yawn and cranked up her music; the warring bass and high hat thrummed in her chest and kept her mostly awake. Brittany N. Williams, NOLA.com, 26 Oct. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high-hat
Adjective
  • Often, entrants include these alongside aristocratic and highbrow interests in a way that could reduce the appearance of snobbishness.
    Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The Village Photographer Madeleine de Sinéty sloughed off her aristocratic upbringing and spent her life capturing small-town life in Brittany and Maine.
    The New York Review of Books, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Everybody on our side understands that impeachment is a critical tool in the toolbox for constitutional self-defense against a president acting like a king, an imperious, lawless, arrogant king.
    NBC news, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Most obviously, front and center, and in endlessly intrusive close-up, there’s Pattinson — who also serves as producer — playing the arrogant, fame-addicted, megalomaniac Hansen.
    Jessica Kiang, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Although the Constitution requires congressional involvement in war-making, Trump like Nixon disdained that mandate with terrible consequences.
    Elizabeth Holtzman, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Most telling is how openly Stassi disdains the idea of therapy, even insisting to the horror of pretty much everyone else onscreen that forcing hard conversations on reality TV is her therapy.
    Caroline Framke, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The Treasury Department on Tuesday sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines and a handful of other entities as part of its ongoing effort to isolate Iran's economy.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Tzolis is isolated in the wide area, against his opponent, Josh Acheampong.
    Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Sophie Cunningham put on her big girl pants and hard hat, and ventured into Canada for the first time in her life Tuesday night.
    Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Police soon had images of a suspect – wearing a hard hat, tinted glasses and a face mask – spray-painting the security cameras around Fandrich's car early that morning, to apparently conceal the crime.
    Lauren Clark, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Welcome to a Monday Nightcaps — the one where a Texas high school football team learns the hard way not to disrespect the great state of Florida.
    Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Oakley and Dolan have long feuded, with Oakley accusing Dolan of treating him less favorably than other Knicks legends, including by not providing him complimentary tickets and allegedly disrespecting him in other ways.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • But, no, the Kittrells attempted to stiff their creditors entirely by way of their Children's Trust.
    Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Sutherland further emphasizes this point, saying that calcium and magnesium in hard water can be absorbed into the cotton, making the towels stiff and irritating.
    Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Liza wore a strapless, pleated emerald green gown while Ryan opted for a black suit, coordinating emerald green tie, and a black top hat.
    Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Wellhouse Leisure The little top hat-like pop-up roof is of no use in expanding sleeping capacity, as it's installed exclusively for raising the snug interior to a standing height over 6 feet.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“High-hat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-hat. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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