Shake·spear·ean
shāk-ˈspir-ē-ən 
variants
or Shakespearian
or less commonly Shaksperean
or Shaksperian
1
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of Shakespeare or his writings
2
: evocative of a theme, setting, or event from a work of Shakespeare
Shakespearean pageantry
variants
or Shakespearian
or less commonly Shaksperean
or Shaksperian
: an authority on or devotee of Shakespeare
Examples of Shakespearean in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Francesca Gariano, People.com, 1 May 2025
But what obsessed me were the lyrics, which describe tragi-comically bleak scenes of contemporary abjection using language that felt borderline Shakespearean, tied up in elaborate rhyme schemes and tight lexical knots.
—Meaghan Garvey, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2025
London’s West End theaters are well known for their range of performances: comedies, dramas, Shakespearean plays, and everything in between.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 23 Nov. 2024
Save for Adam Driver’s Shakespearean gusto as an architect at once mercurial and magical, Coppola has little control over performances that veer toward the cartoonish, and the digital effects have a screensaver chintziness that’s missing the lushness of his best work.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
Kenneth Branagh, the Shakespearean wiz of my dreams, brings that passionate theatricality to this piece, and steers the ship with dramatic heft and kinetic electricity.
—Betty Gabriel, Variety, 9 Oct. 2024
Hiroyuki Sanada has lived a thousand lives in show business: child performer, action star, Shakespearean Fool, Hollywood actor.
—Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024
Jidaigeki Japanese is like our version of Shakespearean English.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Laurence Olivier Legendary Shakespearean thespian Sir Laurence Olivier also received eight BAFTA nominations for his acting career.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 14 Feb. 2024
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Noun
Shakespeare’s tragic love story has been adapted to film several times, including 1996’s Romeo + Juliet, told in a modern-day setting with Shakespearean English.
—Francesca Gariano, People.com, 1 May 2025
But what obsessed me were the lyrics, which describe tragi-comically bleak scenes of contemporary abjection using language that felt borderline Shakespearean, tied up in elaborate rhyme schemes and tight lexical knots.
—Meaghan Garvey, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2025
London’s West End theaters are well known for their range of performances: comedies, dramas, Shakespearean plays, and everything in between.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 23 Nov. 2024
Save for Adam Driver’s Shakespearean gusto as an architect at once mercurial and magical, Coppola has little control over performances that veer toward the cartoonish, and the digital effects have a screensaver chintziness that’s missing the lushness of his best work.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
Kenneth Branagh, the Shakespearean wiz of my dreams, brings that passionate theatricality to this piece, and steers the ship with dramatic heft and kinetic electricity.
—Betty Gabriel, Variety, 9 Oct. 2024
Hiroyuki Sanada has lived a thousand lives in show business: child performer, action star, Shakespearean Fool, Hollywood actor.
—Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024
Jidaigeki Japanese is like our version of Shakespearean English.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Laurence Olivier Legendary Shakespearean thespian Sir Laurence Olivier also received eight BAFTA nominations for his acting career.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 14 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Shakespearean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Shakespearean. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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