polyphonic

adjective

variants or polyphonous
Definition of polyphonicnext
as in harmonic

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar 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 polyphonic The attempts by the current administration to whitewash or erase certain aspects of American history, especially the horrors of slavery, are powerfully countered by the novel’s investigation of America’s origins and its polyphonic voices. — Time, 12 May 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
  • Each line of counterpoint, each aching harmonic turn, felt like a direct transmission from some higher dimension.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 2026
  • To protect harmless bugs, pets, and children, the drone analyzes the unique sonar signatures, such as wingbeat frequencies and harmonic structures.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 July 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
  • The first edition featured an orchestral performance at Ajuda National Palace and attracted more than 100 participants.
    — Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
  • Deep ocean recordings blend with orchestral timpani, distant explosions, vibrations and the recorded buzzing of bees.
    — Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026
Definition of orchestral
Adjective
  • Across 17 tracks, guitar riffs curdle into sheets of distortion, melodies dissolve into electronic hiss, and grooves are chronically interrupted by fresh rhythmic detours.
    — Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Just over four years ago in May 2022, 10-year-old Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast Sasha Paskal and her mother, Maria, were enjoying some time together in the scenic seaside village of Zatoka in the Odesa region of southwestern Ukraine.
    — Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Definition of rhythmic
Adjective
  • Designers styled burgundy bags as effortlessly as a black bag, with tonal moments in shades of red and purple (as seen at Celine), contrasted with white, paired with navy and classic neutrals.
    — Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 31 July 2026
  • Battered metal is as crucial to his kit as conventional drum sounds, and even his tonal elements feel as malleable as wrung-out sponges or wet lumps of clay.
    — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 30 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
  • Watch a lyric video, assembled from Super 8 footage of Prine on a family vacation in the early 1970s, below.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026
  • On July 13, Grande all but confirmed their reconciliation in her lyric change.
    — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 16 July 2026
Definition of lyric

Browse Nearby Words

polyp
polyphonic
polyps
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Polyphonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polyphonic. Accessed 6 Aug. 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 torpor

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
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
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All