variants
or less commonly idyl
1
a
: a simple descriptive work in poetry or prose that deals with rustic life or pastoral scenes or suggests a mood of peace and contentment
b
: a narrative poem (such as Tennyson's Idylls of the King) treating an epic, romantic, or tragic theme
2
a
: a lighthearted carefree episode that is a fit subject for an idyll
b
: a romantic interlude
Synonyms
Examples of idyll in a Sentence
her year as a vineyard worker in the south of France was not the idyll that she had expected it to be
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite the change in locale, of course, the rot persists: Even in this idyll, there’s the specter of the missing girl, just as beneath the happy front Alice presents, supports are giving way.
—
Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2022
In Kfar Aza, the scenes of massacre inside homes were belied by the picture of an idyll that somehow still prevailed outdoors: tidy lawns, strollers, picnic tables.
—Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2023
But his suburban idylls, Gaitskill said, belied desolation and loneliness.
—Brandon Sanchez, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2023
Their idyll there is interrupted by the arrival of Uncle George, who is a widower.
—David Benedict, Variety, 26 May 2023
Daufuskie Island, South Carolina The Spanish moss, salt marshes, and coastal waterways of the South Carolina Lowcountry color this idyll sandwiched between Savannah and Hilton Head Island.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 25 Mar. 2023
The faux-mercial, in which cast members Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong, Aidy Bryant and Vanessa Bayer toss leaves, carve pumpkins and cavort in an autumnal idyll, is a sendup of the collective obsession with the flavor and the cringey genre of feminine-care advertising.
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023
This Alpine idyll is just one of many overcrowded, photogenic sites across Europe where tensions between residents and tourists have risen to a boiling point.
—Andy Eckardt, NBC News, 2 Sep. 2023
That idyll ended abruptly Wednesday when a gunman fired on a crowd that had gathered to listen to a cover band on spaghetti night at the watering hole.
—Karim Doumar, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2023
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Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2022
In Kfar Aza, the scenes of massacre inside homes were belied by the picture of an idyll that somehow still prevailed outdoors: tidy lawns, strollers, picnic tables.
—Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2023
But his suburban idylls, Gaitskill said, belied desolation and loneliness.
—Brandon Sanchez, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2023
Their idyll there is interrupted by the arrival of Uncle George, who is a widower.
—David Benedict, Variety, 26 May 2023
Daufuskie Island, South Carolina The Spanish moss, salt marshes, and coastal waterways of the South Carolina Lowcountry color this idyll sandwiched between Savannah and Hilton Head Island.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 25 Mar. 2023
The faux-mercial, in which cast members Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong, Aidy Bryant and Vanessa Bayer toss leaves, carve pumpkins and cavort in an autumnal idyll, is a sendup of the collective obsession with the flavor and the cringey genre of feminine-care advertising.
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023
This Alpine idyll is just one of many overcrowded, photogenic sites across Europe where tensions between residents and tourists have risen to a boiling point.
—Andy Eckardt, NBC News, 2 Sep. 2023
That idyll ended abruptly Wednesday when a gunman fired on a crowd that had gathered to listen to a cover band on spaghetti night at the watering hole.
—Karim Doumar, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'idyll.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near idyll
Cite this Entry
“Idyll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idyll. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
idyll
noun
variants
also idyl
1
: a simple poetic or prose work that describes peaceful country life
2
: a scene or event one might write an idyll about
More from Merriam-Webster on idyll
Nglish: Translation of idyll for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of idyll for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about idyll
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