Meaning & use
staccato
Marked by short, sharply detached sounds or notes, each clearly separated from the next.
See it in a sentence
The drummer's staccato beats gave the song an urgent, jumpy energy.
She spoke in a quick, staccato rhythm whenever she was nervous.
A note on using this word
Staccato is an Italian musical term, but it is often used figuratively for any short, abrupt pattern of speech or sound.
Words with a similar meaning
clippedabrupt
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
legatosmooth
Make it your own
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