crescendoes
Musical intensity builds
Crescendoes is a plural of crescendo, the gradual increase in loudness or intensity.
In music, crescendoes build toward climactic moments.
The word extends to any mounting buildup: The protests grew in a series of crescendoes throughout the summer.
The plural crescendos is more common.
Increases in intensity
- intensificationsIncreases in strength
- climaxesPoints of greatest intensity
- peaksHighest points attained
- surgesAbrupt powerful rises
buildups · culminations · swellings · upsurges · explosions · outbursts · waves · apexes
Enlarges or billows
- climaxesPoints of greatest intensity
- buildupsGradual accumulations or increases
- peaksHighest points attained
- surgesAbrupt powerful rises
fortissimos · dynamics · amplifications · intensifications · rises · culminations · accents · fortes
escalations
Increases in intensity
- intensificationsIncreases in strength
- climaxesPoints of greatest intensity
- peaksHighest points attained
surges · buildups · culminations · swellings · upsurges · explosions · outbursts · waves · apexes · zeniths
swells
Enlarges or billows
- climaxesPoints of greatest intensity
- buildupsGradual accumulations or increases
- peaksHighest points attained
surges · fortissimos · dynamics · amplifications · intensifications · rises · culminations · accents · fortes · volumes
crescendoesdiminuendos
Gradual reductions in loudness
decrescendos · fades · dies away · softens · quiets
crescendoesdiminishes
Becomes smaller or weaker
fades · wanes · ebbs · dies down · tapers off
crescendo, crescendoed, crescendoing, crescendos, decrescendo, decrescendos