1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

lilting 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of liltingnext
1
as in swaying

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in jaunty

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

lilting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of lilt
as in crooning

Related Words

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 lilting
Adjective
Its lilting reggae sound seems designed more for lazing around a pool (perhaps with an inflatable unicorn) than rousing the masses. — Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 11 June 2026 What Doremus has done though, is to make his own thing with a similar concept, a film greatly enhanced by the lilting presence of Clarke, who is wonderful in this role(s), showing us the glory of fate, and its price. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 June 2026 Malcolm Todd is a rising star with a sweet, lilting voice and a knack for intimate popcraft. — Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 4 June 2026 Tripping along a lilting triplet rhythm, the album opens with one of its catchiest melodies—and one of those sleight-of-hand maneuvers that are Hoop’s specialty. — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for lilting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lilting
  1. swaying
  2. jaunty
  3. crooning
  4. musical
  5. sprightly
  6. warbling
  7. chirpy
  8. quavering
Adjective
  • As the sun set below blush clouds, the gently swaying crowd matched the R&B singer’s sultry energy.
    — Anna Haines, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2025
Definition of swaying
Adjective
  • Adding an eclectic soundtrack that mixes opera with vintage French pop and jaunty tunes that sound like they were lifted from 1960s French comedies, the filmmakers make generous allowances for humor amid the seriousness of the profession.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The dogs have a jaunty gait and are always up for a walk around the block.
    — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 28 July 2026
Definition of jaunty
Verb
  • Before then, monochromatic clips show Karol and Mars racing around on go-karts, trading lyrics back and forth in the empty lower bowl seating area, and crooning over a guitar backstage.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026
  • In a profoundly prolific decade, Texas singer-songwriter Charley Crockett has refined a soulful country purview, crooning sweetly about love and perseverance in misfortune and yielding rave reviews and Grammy nominations.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of crooning
Adjective
  • Jalen Brunson is hosting the season premiere with Katseye as the musical guest.
    — William Earl, Variety, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Next week, Dakota Johnson will host with Turnstile as the musical act.
    — McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of musical
Adjective
  • The old ranch hand cut a surprisingly sprightly figure in his warehouselike clinic, bounding from room to room.
    — Kyle Paoletta, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • In a sprightly performance rife with oddball mannerisms, Gnecco gives Borges equal parts impish wisdom, earthy vulgarity and childlike wonder, rarely letting a moment’s silence go unfilled with eager chatter.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of sprightly
Verb
  • Playing a raging narcissist intoxicated with her own vocal calisthenics, Scherzinger gets one of the movie’s rare amusing moments, warbling in airy Mariah Carey melisma style even while weeping.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of warbling
Adjective
  • And while Foy is appealing as the indefatigable mother, Garfield leans too heavily into manic cutesiness as the endlessly chirpy father who at times seems less grown-up than his children.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026
  • After New Year’s our mother dumps it, with all the glossy families and chirpy letters, in the trash.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
Definition of chirpy
Verb
  • Tiny Silver was a birdlike woman, either very young or very old, quavering.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
  • Softly so as not to drown out the quavering notes, the congregation put words to the melody.
    — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2026
Definition of quavering

Browse Nearby Words

lilted
lilting
lilts
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lilting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lilting. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
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

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of epistemic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All