tarantella
noun
tar·an·tel·la
ˌter-ən-ˈte-lə 
ˌta-rən-ˈte-lə
: a lively folk dance of southern Italy in ⁶/₈ time
Examples of tarantella in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Here, the tarantella is by turns gleeful and demonic — a frantic dance of the doomed, whirling through a mist of contemporary clangor.
—
Justin Davidson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
One display relates the history of the tarantella, a traditional Italian dance that began as a form of musical exorcism to cure wolf spider bites; visitors can practice the steps on a small dance floor with the help of an instructional video.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
But there is plenty more, including a full docket of entertainment, including tarantella dancing and live music from such artists as classic Italian pop singer Vanessa Racci, accordionist Cory Pesaturo, and Bay Area bands Nina Lane, Sonamo and Il Sole.
—Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 29 May 2024
The five animal friends sang and danced to jazz, funk, bossa nova, Irish jig, township jive, tarantella and psychedelic soul.
—John Yoon, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
In the finale, the musicians whipped up plenty of excitement, but also exuded comic cheer in the tarantella, a folksy dance from southern Italy.
—Tim Diovanni, Dallas News, 24 Sep. 2021
The shop offers sacred figures as well as ones inspired by local culture, such as a dancer doing the pizzica (Lecce’s version of the tarantella).
—Alexander Pohl, National Geographic, 4 Nov. 2019
After match point against Wozniacki, as Sergio did a tarantella in the stands, Camila stood beaming on the court.
—Jon Wertheim, SI.com, 10 Jan. 2014
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Justin Davidson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
One display relates the history of the tarantella, a traditional Italian dance that began as a form of musical exorcism to cure wolf spider bites; visitors can practice the steps on a small dance floor with the help of an instructional video.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
But there is plenty more, including a full docket of entertainment, including tarantella dancing and live music from such artists as classic Italian pop singer Vanessa Racci, accordionist Cory Pesaturo, and Bay Area bands Nina Lane, Sonamo and Il Sole.
—Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 29 May 2024
The five animal friends sang and danced to jazz, funk, bossa nova, Irish jig, township jive, tarantella and psychedelic soul.
—John Yoon, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
In the finale, the musicians whipped up plenty of excitement, but also exuded comic cheer in the tarantella, a folksy dance from southern Italy.
—Tim Diovanni, Dallas News, 24 Sep. 2021
The shop offers sacred figures as well as ones inspired by local culture, such as a dancer doing the pizzica (Lecce’s version of the tarantella).
—Alexander Pohl, National Geographic, 4 Nov. 2019
After match point against Wozniacki, as Sergio did a tarantella in the stands, Camila stood beaming on the court.
—Jon Wertheim, SI.com, 10 Jan. 2014
Cite this Entry
“Tarantella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tarantella. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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