nonrhythmic

1 7.4

A sound that has no regular beat

adjective
/nɒnˈrɪðmɪk/

: no rítmico

The composer's latest piece is deliberately nonrhythmic, challenging our expectations of meter.

Examples

Some forms of modern art music embrace nonrhythmic patterns to create a unique soundscape.
He found the nonrhythmic drumming unsettling compared to the steady beats he was used to.
The music was nonrhythmic and chaotic.
Can you describe a nonrhythmic pattern?
The composer's latest piece is deliberately nonrhythmic, challenging our expectations of meter.
Some forms of modern art music embrace nonrhythmic patterns to create a unique soundscape.
He found the nonrhythmic drumming unsettling compared to the steady beats he was used to.

Synonyms

irregular

vsnonrhythmic

42 3.5

Happening at no fixed times

focuses instead on an intentional lack of rhythmic regularity

arrhythmic

vsnonrhythmic

3 8.2

Not having a regular beat or pattern

is intentionally produced to have no regular pulse

noncyclical

vsnonrhythmic

1 7.2

Not happening in regular cycles

emphasizes a deliberate avoidance of any repeating rhythmic cycle

nonperiodic

vsnonrhythmic

1 7.6

Happening at irregular times

highlights a conscious choice to avoid regular rhythmic recurrence

unrhythmical

vsnonrhythmic

1 7.4

Having no steady beat or regular pattern

is purposely without a steady beat for effect

nonmetrical

vsnonrhythmic

1 7.8

Not having a regular beat or rhythm in poetry and music

is a general, purposeful absence of regular rhythmic flow

unrhythmic

vsnonrhythmic

1 7.9

Having no regular beat so movement or sound feels uneven

is deliberately made to have no steady beat

arrhythmical

vsnonrhythmic

9.3

A sound or movement that has no regular beat

is chosen on purpose to avoid any regular beat

unmetrical

vsnonrhythmic

Literature

8.2

Not having a regular rhythm in speech, music, and poetry

is broader and purposely avoids any regular rhythmic pattern

Antonyms

rhythmic

35 3.6

Having a regular pattern of sounds or movements

How Rhythmic

rhythmic

35 3.6

regular

∞ 1.0

irregular

42 3.5

nonrhythmic

1 7.4

Surface Forms

nonrhythmic positive

Morphology

nonrhythmic = rhythmic (transparent) = non + rhythm + ic

Formed by adding the productive negation prefix 'non-' to the adjective 'rhythmic', yielding a straightforward negative meaning.

Etymology

Nonrhythmic is made of the prefix non- meaning 'not' and rhythm, which means a regular 'beat' or pattern like a steady drum. So nonrhythmic means 'not having a regular beat', often used for music or sounds that deliberately avoid a steady pulse.