as in song
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment
a haunting ballad about lost love and loneliness
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ballad
The San Jose Stage production also has the fortune of working with a terrific five-piece band, with Benjamin Belew’s music direction more effective in the rock versions than the power ballads.
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David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
Sarnoski’s film takes its title from one of those ballads, in which Robin Hood — long before there was any Maid Marian to speak of — was a mere yeoman.
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ABC News,
17 June 2026
The Death of Robin Hood is based on the English ballad Robin Hood’s Death, a poetic Middle English telling of the bandit’s final days.
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David Sims,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
The piano ballad follows the dissolution of a relationship as the couple grows apart.
—
Katie Simons,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ballad
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
Sarnoski’s film takes its title from one of those ballads, in which Robin Hood — long before there was any Maid Marian to speak of — was a mere yeoman.
—
ABC News,
17 June 2026
The Death of Robin Hood is based on the English ballad Robin Hood’s Death, a poetic Middle English telling of the bandit’s final days.
—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
The piano ballad follows the dissolution of a relationship as the couple grows apart.
—
Katie Simons,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ballad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballad
Noun
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So to reel it in, Pillsbury and his band threw on a sitar — which made the cut on a few songs — and a flute solo.
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Listen to the Obama playlists Barack Obama is known for releasing his songs of the summer playlist each year, and his end-of-year favorites in books, movies and music.
Noun
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The ceremony included Colombia's national anthem but also the rebel hymn of the Border Commandos -- the lyrics of which make no mention of the group's crimes.
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For centuries, spiritual hymns have kept hope alive, even more so for the enslaved.
Noun
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According to viewers, a woman appearing to be Alannah uses the N-word while lip-syncing lyrics.
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The follow-up to 2022’s Gemini Rights was written, performed, and produced by Lacy, who focuses the new album on transparency and personal lyrics.
Noun
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Pre-show festivities kicked off the event with DJs playing hits from their homeland and classic party anthems from the United States.
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My kumbaya heart nevertheless jumped as the anthem continued.
Noun
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Australian singer-songwriter Tash Sultana presented an emotional and powerful mid-afternoon set with soaring guitar solos and vocals, live looping and musical dexterity that left the audience stunned in the best way possible.
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Guitar strums peak through the mix like fresh blades of grass and sweeping drums gently carry the songs forward, while Lenae sounds sweeter than ever, her airy vocals chasing the wind like white dandelion puffs.
Noun
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Later, piano slices through the fog with a supernatural three-note lullaby that springs just off the beat, racing forward through the song’s misty backdrop.
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Check out this 1997 live TV version of Paranoid Android, which veers from lullaby to apocalypse within the space of a few minutes.
Cite this Entry
“Ballad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballad. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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