as in licks
the smallest amount or part imaginable
you're not making a syllable of sense
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Recent Examples of syllables
The final syllables accelerate into a blur, whereupon a ritual of wailing erupts.
—
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
After the breakdown plunges into a low-pass filter, the song emerges out the other hand with a fully fledged vocal, lyrics and all—a relatively rarity in Willner’s world of half-syllables and blurred phrases.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 18 May 2026
Just the title, with its three abrupt syllables, becomes the echo of a century’s rattling sabres.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 14 May 2026
Her lyrics were as interested in the sound of language as the meaning, stretching words like taffy and ping-ponging syllables around.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The method of literacy instruction is often associated with smaller letter sounds, like consonant blends or syllables.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
The format is five lines of five, seven, five, seven, seven syllables, for a total of 31 syllables.
—Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
His party’s full name is the Respect and Freedom Party, but it’s known by a portmanteau of the first syllables of those Hungarian words.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
With her original, breathy way of speaking, stressing odd syllables and stretching random vowels to the breaking point, her mad fashions and family of wigs, Moira is a sketch character with depth.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
After the breakdown plunges into a low-pass filter, the song emerges out the other hand with a fully fledged vocal, lyrics and all—a relatively rarity in Willner’s world of half-syllables and blurred phrases.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 18 May 2026
Just the title, with its three abrupt syllables, becomes the echo of a century’s rattling sabres.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 14 May 2026
Her lyrics were as interested in the sound of language as the meaning, stretching words like taffy and ping-ponging syllables around.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The method of literacy instruction is often associated with smaller letter sounds, like consonant blends or syllables.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
The format is five lines of five, seven, five, seven, seven syllables, for a total of 31 syllables.
—Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
His party’s full name is the Respect and Freedom Party, but it’s known by a portmanteau of the first syllables of those Hungarian words.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
With her original, breathy way of speaking, stressing odd syllables and stretching random vowels to the breaking point, her mad fashions and family of wigs, Moira is a sketch character with depth.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for syllables
Noun
-
A lot of freedom going on between the guitars, a lotta little licks intermingle with the big guitar licks that the song is all about.—
Liza Lentini,
SPIN,
22 May 2026
-
Eventually music theory discussion turned to actual licks.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Their hoots and hollers drowned Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s explanation of how a title defense fell short.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
-
Wiseman said to hoots from the crowd of media gathered at the site.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Now, though, scientists have discovered bits of tissue removed from a species of sea cucumber called Psolus fabricii can keep on living indefinitely if they’re left in ordinary seawater.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
-
Just non-stop dribbles, counter-attacks, through balls, amazing finishes… all of football’s good bits.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Released on Sky Rompiendo’s independent imprint, Black Koi Entertainment, the song finds Maluma offering his sultry vocals as Kris R’s raps over the smooth reggaeton beat.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Timbaland’s eerie, minimalist production — stuttering beat patterns, yawning silences between drum hits, synth riffs that bray and heave — was the ideal vehicle for Elliott’s slaloming, heavily syncopated raps.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Syllables.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/syllables. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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