homophonic

adjective

Definition of homophonicnext
as in polyphonic

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 homophonic In this grid, the revealer is at 57-Across, clued with [Hides one’s central point, in a way … with a doubly homophonic hint to 20-, 30-, 38- and 48-Across]. — Sean McGowan, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 My introduction to homophonic translation came from my former teacher, Mónica de la Torre. — 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 The content creator also used a homophonic slur at several points throughout the clip. — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2024 The encryption turned out to be a homophonic cipher, in which each letter of the alphabet can be encoded in several different ways. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Feb. 2023 Mary used what is called a homophonic cipher, where each letter is replaced with a certain symbol. — Town & Country, 8 Feb. 2023 The letters used what’s known as a homophonic cipher, the researchers explain in a study published on Tuesday in the journal Cryptologia. — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 8 Feb. 2023 The ciphers were homophonic, meaning each letter of the alphabet could be encoded using several cipher symbols, according to the researchers. — Ashley Strickland, CNN, 7 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for homophonic
  1. polyphonic
  2. harmonic
  3. tonal
  4. rhythmic
  5. orchestral
  6. chordal
  7. lyric
  8. lyrical
Adjective
  • In polyphonic music such as Bach, Van Bloss offers a superhuman degree of precision and individuality.
    — Mike Hamersly, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Dja Dja comprises 14 songs of polyphonic glitz, MIDI fugues, and Balinese gamelan to form an epic suite spanning ancient timbres and hectic sound design, pure pop and a beguiling avant-garde.
    — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of polyphonic
Adjective
  • Ziggy Marley was headlining the show with Burning Spear, and the air was thick with the sound of harmonic lineage.
    — Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
  • But at times, the caliber of their technical and harmonic choices sounds arty and sophisticated.
    — Ernesto Lechner, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of harmonic
Adjective
  • But their fervor ironically winds up being counterproductive, yielding a jumbled tonal mess that feels deadly serious one moment and like parody the next.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • In the process, American comedy went from being a writer’s medium, conceptual and self-aware, to a more tonal form that rewarded actors’ screen presence and sense of timing.
    — Dan Brooks, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of tonal
Adjective
  • The neon kangaroo flickered, releasing a rhythmic, neon buzz.
    — Larry Padgett, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Even the outro gives that familiar groove one final twist, carrying the chorus’ melodic and rhythmic framework into new lyrics rather than simply repeating the chorus again.
    — David Penn, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of rhythmic
Adjective
  • The emotions are real; the sentimental orchestral score by Joseph Trapanese goes overboard.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • By Sunday night, videos from both performances went viral on social media as online users marveled at the Spanish singer’s operatic vocals and orchestral melodies.
    — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of orchestral
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
  • The protagonist, Mi-ja, is an older woman who starts to write lyric poetry.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • And so lyric arrives, unbridled by the laws of grammar, pressing its hooves to the measure of music.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of lyric
Adjective
  • Lyubka’s compelling storytelling technique is detailed, lyrical, at times, humorous, and therefore deeply penetrating.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Nothing has an immersive and even philosophical or lyrical quality, and that is by design.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of lyrical

Browse Nearby Words

homology
homophonic
homos
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Homophonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/homophonic. Accessed 21 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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

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

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All