syncopated

1 of 2

adjective

syn·​co·​pat·​ed ˈsiŋ-kə-ˌpā-təd How to pronounce syncopated (audio)
ˈsin-
Synonyms of syncopatednext
1
: cut short : abbreviated
2
: marked by or exhibiting syncopation
syncopated rhythm

syncopated

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of syncopate

Examples of syncopated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
Rodríguez Castro can be seen wearing a New York Yankees shirt, moving suggestively to driving percussive beats, punctuated by catchy, syncopated vocals. — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026 Their exhilarating fusion of bebop virtuosity and intensely syncopated Cuban rhythms had a broad impact that built on the important, but lesser known, work of band leader Mario Bauzá. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2026 Playing percussive pizzicato as often as the traditional bow, Reid gives her long, rhythmic compositions plenty of spin, pop, and sizzle, focusing on syncopated action over textural brooding. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 June 2026 Timbaland’s eerie, minimalist production — stuttering beat patterns, yawning silences between drum hits, synth riffs that bray and heave — was the ideal vehicle for Elliott’s slaloming, heavily syncopated raps. — New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for syncopated

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of syncopated was in 1665

Rhymes for syncopated

See All Rhymes for syncopated

Browse Nearby Words

syncopate
syncopated
syncopated counterpoint
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Syncopated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/syncopated. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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