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
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
  • But over the course of numerous sequels and reboots, the franchise largely shifted away from resonant character drama in favor of high-octane action sequences and increasingly monstrous beasts.
    Megan McCluskey, Time, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Prior to Tangles, Nelson built a successful career as a commercial director and animation filmmaker, known for her emotionally resonant storytelling and distinctive visual style.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Syrians gathered around the court in Damascus, chanting, clapping and waving the Syrian flag as news of the sentences spread.
    Kinda Makieh, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Outpouring of grief The sound of sobbing underlays chanting in dozens of dialects woven together in a single expression of sorrow for Imam Hussein and his companions and family, killed and taken captive in the defining event of Shia Islam.
    Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • 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
  • In addition to his film, TV and theater work, Yun has also narrated a ton of Korean documentaries over the years thanks to his sonorous voice.
    Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Adjective
  • Angels is relentless, melodic, and aggressive—Pocket Pet and Achilles are standouts—a darkly feverish run of glitchy and tense soundscapes.
    Vogue, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Neither part has quite enough melodic interest for me personally.
    Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Digital currencies, like Bitcoin, are historically volatile and therefore less appealing for entities making large transactions.
    Nathan Lee, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Over time, their purpose evolved into an elegant way to conceal a naked body while changing or to cover up a room’s less appealing realities.
    Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Do not leave the important detail implied because the tone feels pleasant today.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Adding to the pleasure of a visit here is the location, the walk to Home Park from the station being one of the more pleasant, through the city’s Central Park.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trilling. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on trilling

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