polyphonic

adjective

variants or polyphonous
Definition of polyphonicnext
as in harmonic

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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 polyphonic We are left just with voices, and those voices, in the novel’s subtle and canny repetitions, begin to merge with one another, becoming polyphonic. — Nicholas Dames, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2026 The choral elements on the record shine most vividly on the title track, which features polyphonic swells of voices humming melodies, overtaking the piano, dropping and then rising again. — Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026 Women who worked in shops sang together in bellowing, polyphonic unison. — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 21 Dec. 2025 Zivix reports that its algorithms can register complex playing techniques like polyphonic bends, slides, hammer-ons and pull-offs, tapping and muting. — New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for polyphonic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polyphonic
  1. harmonic
  2. homophonic
  3. orchestral
  4. rhythmic
  5. tonal
  6. chordal
  7. songful
  8. lyric
Adjective
  • These filings offer no melodic details, nothing rhythmic, nothing harmonic or structural.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 6 July 2026
  • The rhythmic pulse of hand clapping, accompanied by the resounding harmonic messages through voice.
    — Ukee Washington, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Definition of harmonic
Adjective
  • My introduction to homophonic translation came from my former teacher, Mónica de la Torre.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Jan. 2026
  • How does this make any sense except as a very stupid, clumsy, idiotic no good way to give us a homophonic bridge to Gandalf.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Definition of homophonic
Adjective
  • While working with composer Nicholas Britell on Andor and Michael Giacchino on Rogue One, Gilroy was struck by the orchestral landscape that surrounded them.
    — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
  • David Baerwald is an American songwriter, composer, lyricist, and novelist, whose work has spanned 1970s punk rock, award-winning solo recordings, Grammy-winning mega-hits, orchestral film music, and literary fiction.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
Definition of orchestral
Adjective
  • The microphones pick up the rhythmic thwack of leather on leather as Zizou executes a series of short passes with teammates.
    — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026
  • There is the rhythmic, at times monotonous pattern of the minor-league baseball season.
    — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of rhythmic
Adjective
  • Barbaro completed her outfit with a tonal layering of tops, modeling a red scoop-neck tank tucked into her capris and a pink scoop-neck garment beneath that.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 15 July 2026
  • And one way to bridge this tonal shift in a polished way is to use your home’s architectural details.
    — Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2026
Definition of tonal
Adjective
  • Probably because at the time many of the time signatures and chordal progressions that Miles used were over the head of a young guitar player still functioning in the blues and folk idioms.
    — Steve Baltin, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026
  • Hudson buttressed Al Kooper’s original organ part into a chordal fortress, part of an incendiary performance that surges to peak after peak.
    — Jon Pareles, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Definition of chordal
Adjective
  • Bach was lively, supple, and, especially in the Larghetto, generous in its songful musicality.
    — Jeremy Eichler, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Sep. 2022
  • In the early going, some tender yet mystic motifs suggest the songful chromaticism of Olivier Messiaen.
    — Seth Colter Walls, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2022
Definition of songful
Adjective
  • On July 13, Grande all but confirmed their reconciliation in her lyric change.
    — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 16 July 2026
  • At the time, a rep for Grande did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment regarding the lyric change.
    — Travis Cronin, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026
Definition of lyric

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polyphonic
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Cite this Entry

“Polyphonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polyphonic. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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