trilling 1 of 2

Definition of trillingnext

trilling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of trill
as in quavering
to sing with the alternation of two musical tones a bluebird trilled outside our window

Synonyms & Similar 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 trilling
Verb
The chihuahuan raven has a somewhat different vocalization, with more of a trilling quality to its croak. — Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 31 Aug. 2026 Rock Harbor to Daisy Farm Campground This trail almost entirely follows the coast for 7 miles, with a soundtrack of lapping waves, trilling loons, and the occasional outboard motor. — Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 7 June 2026 In a now-viral clip, Carpenter overheard someone from the crowd trilling during her set for Weekend 1 and asked if the audience member was yodeling. — Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2026 Sounds of loud trilling shouts after silent hunts, and singing. — Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025 The blast furnace of volcanoes has fallen silent, replaced by birdsong trilling from the branches and echoing through a garden of exotic stone. — Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025 Expect to marvel at saddles blanketed in blueberries and multi-hued wildflowers, marmots trilling their warnings, ibex perched on rocky spines, and neon critters that wiggle and hop underfoot. — Wendy Altschuler, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trilling
Adjective
  • Nine’s creaking, warbling cadence makes for a Thug/Carti hybrid that’s distinct but still close enough to be familiar and palatable.
    — Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 16 Apr. 2026
  • The song may be six minutes long, but the circuitous lope of his acoustic-guitar strum and low throb of his warbling feel eternal, like the type of tune Sisyphus might have hummed to keep himself company.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Tiny Silver was a birdlike woman, either very young or very old, quavering.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
  • Softly so as not to drown out the quavering notes, the congregation put words to the melody.
    — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2026
Adjective
  • That proposition is particularly resonant in watchmaking, where the mechanical timepiece has long transcended its practical function.
    — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Nuanced, resonant verse paints a clear-eyed, profoundly loving portrait of a teen navigating the complexities of growing up.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Pupils clustered outside the doors of several schools in Paris and other cities in the morning hours, brandishing placards and megaphones and chanting slogans, and marches were planned later in the day.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Some protesters nevertheless broke through police cordons, chanting slogans against Modi and election authorities before being detained.
    — Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • This shimmering, sonorous work, from one of our greatest living directors, moves through the peculiar landscapes of human interaction with certainty, eccentricity and grace, alighting on a generous if rueful conclusion.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Assuming the role of a human clapper, Holzinger struck its lip again and again, sending a sonorous peal across the Biennale grounds.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 24 June 2026
Adjective
  • Your music can be melodic, painful, street and vulnerable all at once.
    — Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026
  • As the scene unfolds, however, the music begins to empty out, giving way to darker, lower melodic textures.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Now in its third modern iteration, the Carrera T occupies a uniquely appealing space within the 911 family.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Users do complain that bet365 is not the most visually appealing app and has too much text on the screen.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The chicken’s accompaniment of roasted and pickled vegetables provided a light, pleasant contrast to the meat.
    — Julia Wytrazek, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Being a cordial person, Larry wished his new boss a pleasant evening.
    — Blake J. Harris, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trilling. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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