lyricism

noun

lyr·​i·​cism ˈlir-ə-ˌsi-zəm How to pronounce lyricism (audio)
1
: the quality or state of being lyric : songfulness
The important part of his anthology 100 Modern Poems is the foreign verse, showing the French influence on our symbolism, the Celtic influence (Yeats, Dylan Thomas) on our lyricism.Peter Viereck
2
a
: an intense personal quality expressive of feeling or emotion in an art (such as poetry or music)
… a muse that brought out the lyricism in innumerable writers.Erich Segal
b
: exuberance
[Thomas] Wolfe is the sort of author who inspires lyricism or invective, not judicious interpretationTime
3
: the words of a song : lyrics
witty lyricism
Despite her spitfire raps and devil-may-care persona, Lee's lyricism is surprisingly sensitive, proving the rapper to be wise beyond her years.Gladys Yeo
Renaissance, Beyoncé's seventh album, was a seductive club banger with heady lyricism and deep tributes to the queer community.CT Jones

Examples of lyricism in a Sentence

the lyricism of his paintings
Recent Examples on the Web Regarded for his wrenching, joyful lyricism as a bard of all things Irish, Shane MacGowan – the singer-songwriter known mostly for his work as frontman of the Celtic punk phenomenon the Pogues – was truly a tender poet of universal concern. A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 30 Nov. 2023 But lyricism would become increasingly important, as would an expansive scoring style, in which instruments more typically heard in pop and folk ensembles — electric guitar and bass, saxophones, mandolin, banjo and accordion — were grafted onto standard orchestras. Allan Kozinn, New York Times, 18 Nov. 2023 Its delicate, humorous lyricism is another embodiment of Translations’ big-souled complexity. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2023 The former received the remix treatment in October when the MMG duo tapped NBA superstars Damian Lillard and Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal to showcase their lyricism. Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 8 Nov. 2023 Get Tickets on Fandango All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt (Theaters, 11/3) A Sundance hit, Raven Jackson’s debut film earned widespread acclaim for its lyricism and confidence. Keith Phipps, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2023 With that being said, Nas’ lyricism was as strong as ever, and Hip Hop Is Dead was even nominated for a coveted Grammy Award in 2008. Okla Jones, Essence, 15 Sep. 2023 Her sound mixes the energy of 2008-era Lady Gaga and the lyricism of Carole King, served with a side of early-aughts Hannah Montana glam. Sofia Andrade, Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2023 Akin to the macabre lyricism of David Lynch’s moving dreams, Ripstein’s intoxicating frames feel otherworldly. Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lyricism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1760, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lyricism was in 1760

Dictionary Entries Near lyricism

Cite this Entry

“Lyricism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lyricism. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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