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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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 -
Anybody who has seen an earlier Conrad show will recognize his particular cadences and oddball choices.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Feb. 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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Bathrooms are smartly designed to fit large shower-baths into a relatively compact space; tiling is dark and mirrored with pleasing gold accents.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
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Apart from the accents, one difference from the American original was the expletives.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The study and device are likely to help researchers understand biological systems, such as circadian rhythms, and nonreciprocal processes, such as how the body breaks down food.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Mar. 2026
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The rhythms, the music, everything is very flashy, very visual.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
22 Mar. 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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Your neighbor might rely on an oxygen concentrator to breathe – a machine the size of a carry-on bag that hums quietly through the night.—
Katherine Asmussen,
The Conversation,
18 Mar. 2026
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The group hums in agreement, offering dispatches from their own lives about thorny friendships.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Lilts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lilts. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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