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
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.
Known for her genre-bending sound, fierce lyricism, and high-concept visuals, Doechii is bringing her electrifying stage presence to cities across the U.S. and Canada, with stops in Toronto, Boston, D.C., Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix, and more. Okla Jones, Essence, 4 Aug. 2025 No other act in music boasted nine inimitable personalities, with disparate styles and sharp lyricism, who all called a single New York borough, Staten Island, home. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2025 Because of Musk’s indispensability, his values have come to dominate America’s aspirations in space, draining the lyricism from the old NASA mission. Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2025 Juho Pohjonen impressed with stamina and directional energy in Etude 13, then pivoted gracefully to for Etude 14 — a piece that blends romantic lyricism with cowboy-blues inflections. Luke Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for lyricism

Word History

First Known Use

1760, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lyricism was in 1760

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Cite this Entry

“Lyricism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lyricism. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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