metronomic

adjective

met·​ro·​nom·​ic ˌme-trə-ˈnä-mik 

variants or less commonly metronomical

ˌme-trə-ˈnä-mi-kəl 

1

: mechanically regular (as in action or tempo)

… the swimmer's arms lift and glide under the surface in a reliable metronomic cadence …

—Diana Nyad

2

medical : of, relating to, or being a drug or regimen of drugs administered in low doses at regular intervals over an extended period of time

metronomic chemotherapy

metronomically

ˌme-trə-ˈnä-mi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of metronomic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His style is less spectacular than solid, less magical than metronomic. —CBS News, 8 Sep. 2024

The chain reaction of metronomic tck-tck-tcks is expected to last eight full minutes and promises to be supremely satisfying. —Sofia Andrade, Washington Post, 19 July 2024

The antennas have enabled scientists to detect radio signals emitted during magnetic storms on the Sun, document the metronomic bursts from dead stellar cinders called pulsars, and discover the fine detail of lightning strikes on Saturn. —Byeric Lusito, science.org, 14 June 2024

The industry’s interest seemed to subside after a metronomic series of clinical disappointments, but in 2024, the disease now called MASH is back in the spotlight thanks to a boom in obesity research. —Damian Garde, STAT, 26 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

metronomic

adjective

met·​ro·​nom·​ic ˌme-trə-ˈnäm-ik 

: of, relating to, or being a drug or regimen of drugs administered in low doses at regular intervals over an extended period of time

metronomic cyclophosphamide

metronomic chemotherapy