pianissimo

1 of 2

adverb or adjective

pi·​a·​nis·​si·​mo ˌpē-ə-ˈni-sə-ˌmō How to pronounce pianissimo (audio)
: very softly
—used as a direction in music

pianissimo

2 of 2

noun

ˌpē-ə-ˈni-sə-(ˌ)mē How to pronounce pianissimo (audio)
plural pianissimi or pianissimos
: a passage played, sung, or spoken very softly

Examples of pianissimo in a Sentence

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Noun
The score had come to a pianissimo — immediately after the title character, an otherworldly visitor to a divided land, comes to the rescue of Elsa and declares his love for her — and the chorus singers needed to alter their sound to accommodate the acoustics of their hooded costumes. — Joshua Barone, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adverb or adjective

Italian, from piano softly

First Known Use

Adverb Or Adjective

circa 1710, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1781, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pianissimo was circa 1710

Rhymes for pianissimo

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Browse Nearby Words

pianism
pianissimo
pianist
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Cite this Entry

“Pianissimo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pianissimo. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

pianissimo

adverb or adjective
pi·​a·​nis·​si·​mo
ˌpē-ə-ˈnis-ə-ˌmō
: very softly
—used as a direction in music
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