rhythms

noun

plural of rhythm
as in cadences
the recurrent pattern formed by a series of sounds having a regular rise and fall in intensity the steady rhythm of the rain falling on the roof

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 rhythms Since the turn of the millennium, Latin America has become a hotbed of electronic dance music, warping countless homegrown rhythms at block parties, bedrooms, and mega clubs across the region. — Richard Villegas, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026 Faustino Alanís’ coming-of-age story follows a teenager caught between artistic ambition and family responsibility, using the rhythms of street culture to explore masculinity, adulthood and the difficult transition from childhood to independence. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 As reported by Dealabs, the tracker may also be able to notify wearers about potential atrial fibrillation and irregular heart rhythms. — Emma Roth, The Verge, 9 Oct. 2026 McHill says the liver may be particularly vulnerable when eating patterns fall out of sync with the body’s circadian rhythms. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 9 Oct. 2026 The same is increasingly true for reporting, preparation, monitoring and recurring operating rhythms. — Keith Ferrazzi, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026 Rustling and droning tape effects from Frye, subtle enough to be nearly subliminal but still somehow palpably present, act as a binding agent on every track, blurring tones and connecting rhythms. — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 6 Oct. 2026 The Classic Plan includes all courses and exercises, covering fundamentals such as proper hand positioning and basic rhythms, along with chords, music theory, and reading sheet music. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026 After her brief talk, the music starts up — an ethereal, energetic mix of electronica, African rhythms and pop — and the circle dissolves into free-form dance. — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rhythms
  1. cadences
  2. beats
  3. drums
Noun
  • In a powerfully compelling novel that brims with the cadences of the Black South, Jones explores the women’s diverging lives while using them as a lens to observe social injustice in language that is intimate, conversational, and musical.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
  • SpaceX thinks this recovery strategy will enable fast and efficient reuse, allowing the company to achieve seemingly outrageous launch cadences.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of cadences
Noun
  • Drill rappers hop on their beats; new gen stars keep on brushing up against them.
    — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Regarding any of the movie’s more controversial beats, however, Altman shrugs it all off.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of beats
Noun
  • That album drew Simmons’ bass and Bindeman’s drums to the fore of the mix, letting Harris’ guitar and vocals foam behind the rhythm section’s discrete peaks.
    — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026
  • At first, there was almost nothing onstage — no drums, just microphone stands on an undulating platform surrounding the venue’s Snake Pit.
    — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of drums

Browse Nearby Words

rhythmic
rhythms
riata
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rhythms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rhythms. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

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

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
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
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All