1
as in swaying
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2
as in jaunty
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lilting
Nick Remsen, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2025
With lilting cadences, the king shares the origin myth of his Nkangala people, that a small elephant shed its skin while bathing in the river and a woman emerged, who married and procreated with his ancestors.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
The lilting Calle Malaga, Morocco’s official entry for the International Feature Film Oscar, is a joy largely because of its veteran star who envelops the screen and grabs a role of a career.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
The first violins unfurl a lilting, lightly bopping tune in D minor.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lilting
Adjective
The bending roads and lilting knolls of College Grove, Tennessee, about 45 minutes south of Nashville, are still verdant in the late August heat.
—Nick Remsen, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2025
With lilting cadences, the king shares the origin myth of his Nkangala people, that a small elephant shed its skin while bathing in the river and a woman emerged, who married and procreated with his ancestors.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
The lilting Calle Malaga, Morocco’s official entry for the International Feature Film Oscar, is a joy largely because of its veteran star who envelops the screen and grabs a role of a career.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
The first violins unfurl a lilting, lightly bopping tune in D minor.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lilting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lilting
Adjective
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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
Adjective
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Its unnervingly jaunty melody pushes against devastating lyrics, and Simone kept updating its verses as new American horrors demanded acknowledgment.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
1 Feb. 2026
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Glue the point of the hat to the side to give it a jaunty look.—
Caylin Harris,
Parents,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
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What’s more, he is seen and heard crooning more than his costar in the film Kelly Rowland, who was one third of the legendary girl group Destiny’s Child, and has had a successful solo career since.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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Tammy Wynette and George Jones may have gotten a D-I-V-O-R-C-E, but the crooning duo had a hard time severing ties for good.—
Daysia Tolentino,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Williams won his first of five Oscars for Fiddler on the Roof, seamlessly tailoring the Broadway musical's score to the big screen.—
Alex Galbraith,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Feb. 2026
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And Gamson’s college buddy Fred Maher, a drummer for Lou Reed, Richard Hell, and the avant-funk band Material, who, like Gartside, saw how the new electronic pop was surpassing the musical adventurousness of his old post-punk comfort zone.—
Andy Cush,
Pitchfork,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Flora felt a brimming lightness, her sprightly grin restored, a new swing in her step.—
Fiona Donovan,
Vanity Fair,
30 Dec. 2025
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The sprightly song is now the longest-running No. 1 song in Billboard chart history after extending its reign on the Hot 100 to 20 total weeks this year.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
15 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Chipmunk flows and equally chirpy beats bridge the gap between the Florida fast movement, Detroit cloud rap, and the hazier elements of New York’s young alternative scenes.—
Benny Sun,
Pitchfork,
22 Dec. 2025
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Longtime fans will note how Cabin in the Sky’s volley of chirpy melodies, callbacks to old-school roller-skating and quirky skits featuring Saturday Night Live’s Jay Pharaoh evokes past De La fare like De La Soul Is Dead.—
Mosi Reeves,
Rolling Stone,
25 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The governor, Tim Walz, defeated for the Vice Presidency, gets on TV, his voice quavering, saying the right things, speaking the truth, and advising courage.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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The combination of quavering flutes and solemn, unfamiliar corridors is disquieting.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Foot traffic at restaurants, shops and mosques sharply declined, turning once-lively economic and social hubs into ghost towns, and threatening to cripple the livelihood of an entire community.—
Yahya Salem,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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The lively City Hall gala was Boston’s third official celebration since the city formally recognized the day as a holiday in 2023, and attendees marked the occasion with a range of artistic showcases and performances.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lilting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lilting. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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