syllabic

/ sɪˈlæbɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to syllables or the division of a word into syllables
2. denoting a kind of verse line based on a specific number of syllables rather than being regulated by stresses or quantities
3. (of a consonant) constituting a syllable
4. (of plainsong and similar chanting) having each syllable sung to a different note

noun

1. a syllabic consonant

Derived Forms

• sylˈlabically, adverb

Example Sentences

Debbie Gibson has been a fixture on Broadway far longer than she was atop the pop charts in the late ’80s, which explains why the songs on “Winterlicious,” her first holiday album, skew toward the sorts of tunes that connect plot points in a musical — fiercely restrained singing with heavy syllabic emphasis, a curious abundance of detail, a saccharine quality that feels like a Christmas cookie overdose.

From New York Times

Some words are inherently challenging, while others may be tricky due to particular quirks, peculiar spellings or cultural differentiations — the rolling "R" in Spanish words, the syllabic intonation of Italian words and so on and so forth.

From Salon

Two students debated the syllabic rhythm in the last two lines of “Paradise Lost.”

From New York Times

While it was somewhat unusual for Mr. Howard to embrace the dramatic monologue at a time when confessional poetry was in vogue, it was even more striking that he wrote syllabic verse, embracing a poetic form that was more common to languages such as French, rather than writing in free verse or adopting a more typical metric line like iambic pentameter.

From Washington Post

I’ll say it again: They must be 5-7-5 in syllabic style.

From Washington Post