syllable

noun

ˈsi-lə-bəl How to pronounce syllable (audio)
Definition of syllablenext
as in damn
the smallest amount or part imaginable you're not making a syllable of sense

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 syllable There has been a half-hearted rule in English spelling to use OW at the end of a word or syllable, and OU everywhere else. — Literary Hub, 25 June 2026 For example, Anna Claire has a nice balance of syllables and distinctive sounds, while Anna Ella feels more repetitive. — Liz Regalia, Parents, 23 June 2026 With venom and shrewd determination, Nicholson paints his character as a swaggering monster who milks every syllable of his dialogue with vitriolic relish. — Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026 Popularized by a beer commercial during the 1986 World Cup, it’s used to rally on teams with its repetitive (albeit nonsensical) syllables as well as its upbeat ending. — Michael Rios, CNN Money, 7 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for syllable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for syllable
  1. damn
  2. hoot
  3. lick
  4. whit
Noun
  • And if that is to be the case, most Chicagoans do not give a damn whether the team goes to Arlington Heights or Hammond.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026
  • In a world of drivers mostly ruled by their corporate sponsors, Busch was an otherworldly talent who simply did not give a damn.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2026
Definition of damn
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
  • Periodically, Spider-Noir is, indeed, a hoot.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Definition of hoot
Noun
  • This music is often so simplistic—tenth-grade emo-thirst-trap-core with yearning synths, thudding drums, and maybe a lick of guitar—that a machine could do it too.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026
  • Today, upgrading a home isn’t only about a lick of new paint or collectible furniture.
    — Kissa Castaneda, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Definition of lick
Noun
  • His adoration, here as in all things natural, is infectious, although the birds themselves care not a whit for him, and isn’t that part of the wonder, the fun?
    — Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
  • An unconventional structure or new approach bothers them not a whit.
    — Mac Barnett, Longreads, 5 May 2026
Definition of whit

Browse Nearby Words

syllabi
syllable
syllables
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Cite this Entry

“Syllable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/syllable. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on syllable

Nglish: Translation of syllable for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about syllable

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