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 With an innately gothic atmosphere, Gibson's indelible lyricism, and the addictive promise of Carmilla’s presence, Laura’s story is begging to be consumed. Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 20 Dec. 2023 These acts inspired artists in other parts of Latin America and beyond to use their music and lyricism to fight for their causes. Matthew Dursum, SPIN, 20 Nov. 2023 The nearly four minutes of straight lyricism connects not only generation but regions, with Ray Vaughn from Long Beach, California and Pusha T famously raised in Virginia Beach. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024 That kind of promise is the stuff of cosmic lyricism, and last year, U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón penned some verse in honor of both the moon and the mission, writing in part: [E]ach rivulet, each pulse, each vein. TIME, 12 Feb. 2024 Best to relieve yourself of textual worries and bask in the fraught lyricism. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2024 But Destinee Lynn is, with a gripping flow that hits like a slap in the face or a jab in the nose (depending on the sentiment), aided by succinct lyricism that goes straight for the throat — or the heart. Journal Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2024 Squadrons of dancers perform fierce choreography blending the lyricism of interpretive dance with the pulsation of hip-hop. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2024 Goudy was a concert promoter at the time, and started paying a lot more attention to the lyricism of hip-hop, instead of solely the beat. Emiene Wright, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024

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 19 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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