acrostic
noun
acros·tic
ə-ˈkrȯ-stik 
-ˈkrä-
1
: a composition usually in verse in which sets of letters (such as the initial or final letters of the lines) taken in order form a word or phrase or a regular sequence of letters of the alphabet
2
: acronym
Examples of acrostic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
All in all, every enjoyable aspect of solving an acrostic is well represented.
—
Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2020
Each land contains a group of puzzles that range from crosswords and acrostics to cryptograms and engineering problems.
—Andrew Hetherington, Popular Mechanics, 12 Mar. 2020
An acrostic is typically a literary technique in which the first letters of the lines of a poem spell out a message.
—BostonGlobe.com, 6 Nov. 2019
The new acrostic is one of many scattered throughout Milton’s text.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, 19 Sep. 2019
Drew, a twentysomething educator living in Florida, did just that, charming his matches with poems that were also acrostics spelling out such Tinder-favorite pickup lines as SEND NUDES and WANNA SMASH.
—Casey Newton, The Verge, 11 Aug. 2018
Some contained complicated puzzles, acrostics, and rebuses (pictures that represent words or parts of words).
—Marilyn Yalom, Time, 14 Feb. 2018
Two: The acrostics are a distraction, overshadowing the letters’ primary message.
—Dino Grandoni, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2017
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2020
Each land contains a group of puzzles that range from crosswords and acrostics to cryptograms and engineering problems.
—Andrew Hetherington, Popular Mechanics, 12 Mar. 2020
An acrostic is typically a literary technique in which the first letters of the lines of a poem spell out a message.
—BostonGlobe.com, 6 Nov. 2019
The new acrostic is one of many scattered throughout Milton’s text.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, 19 Sep. 2019
Drew, a twentysomething educator living in Florida, did just that, charming his matches with poems that were also acrostics spelling out such Tinder-favorite pickup lines as SEND NUDES and WANNA SMASH.
—Casey Newton, The Verge, 11 Aug. 2018
Some contained complicated puzzles, acrostics, and rebuses (pictures that represent words or parts of words).
—Marilyn Yalom, Time, 14 Feb. 2018
Two: The acrostics are a distraction, overshadowing the letters’ primary message.
—Dino Grandoni, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Acrostic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acrostic. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
acrostic
noun
acros·tic
ə-ˈkrȯs-tik
-ˈkräs-
: a poem in which a set of letters (as the first letter of the lines) taken in order form a word or phrase
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share