1
as in melodic
having a pleasantly flowing quality suggestive of music
the musical sounds of the babbling brook
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in symphonic
having a pleasing mixture of notes
the song of the skylark has been celebrated for being especially musical
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in comedy
Related Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of musical
H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
Now, with the help of San Diego philanthropist Irwin Jacobs, that musical partnership is guaranteed to carry on for the next three seasons.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
The festival sparked two documentaries and a comedic musical is now in the works, starring singer Rita Ora.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for musical
Adjective
The Italian experimental duo creates a sprawling, overstimulating work that celebrates the kitsch lurking behind a wide array of musical forms.
—H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
Now, with the help of San Diego philanthropist Irwin Jacobs, that musical partnership is guaranteed to carry on for the next three seasons.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
The performers in the touring casts of Broadway musicals often follow strikingly similar paths from high school to hit show — hours spent practicing show tunes with vocal coaches, years of dance classes, roles in a dozen amateur musical theater productions.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
The festival sparked two documentaries and a comedic musical is now in the works, starring singer Rita Ora.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for musical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for musical
Adjective
-
Driven by salsa’s infectious rhythms and reimagined through a modern lens, the song — which bridges generations and honors tradition — laces Fonsi’s soaring vocals with Feid’s smooth, melodic voice.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Max Martin has been incredibly successful navigating stylistic change because his work is always built upon strong musical fundamentals, clear structure, melodic sensibility, and intentionality.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
What elevates the film into the stratosphere, though, is Murch’s symphonic manipulation of music, sound, and noise.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The familiar Star Wars symphonic scores were reserved for soundtracks inside the two anchor attractions and live shows in the land that were eventually cut from the budget.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Sahlins and Close were friends and the improv-sketch divide was never absolute in Chicago comedy circles.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Chelsea Green is perhaps the most entertaining star in all of WWE, but she’s been largely booked as a comedy character on the main roster.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The song’s minimalist sound and flow highlighted Residente and Bad Bunny’s rap and lyrical skills, along with iLe’s unique and powerful voice.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
26 Jan. 2026
-
According to the announcement, over 14 weeks, students will explore the harmonic language, melodic design, rhythmic vocabulary, lyrical construction, production principles, and signature devices that define Max Martin’s chart-topping catalog.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Sentimental Value was the big winner at the 38th European Film Awards, with Joachim Trier’s Norwegian melodrama winning best film, as well as best director and twin acting honors for Stellan Skarsgard and Renate Reinsve.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Dabis embraces the conventions of melodrama with sombre grace.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Levinson has cited David Wojnarowicz’s haunted, unflinching writing on the AIDS crisis as an influence, and the lyric sheet is littered with pets and prayers and names of friends, giving their music the feeling of a community being preserved in song.—
Sam Sodomsky,
Pitchfork,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Apple Music uploaded Dolby Atmos versions of Reputation on the streaming platform, and many eagle-eyed Swifties had noticed that there were two lyric changes on the song list.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Stoppard broke through in 1966 with his play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, an ambitious tragicomedy that reimagines the lives of two minor characters in Shakespare’s Hamlet, and which became a landmark moment in British theater.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
29 Nov. 2025
-
The citizen in you laughs heartily as this film, a tragicomedy, skewers the hypocrisies and ironies of the repressed West.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
21 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Netflix may be eyeing two of them with its surprise hit of 2025, Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans’s musical comedy on K-pop stars who moonlight as demon hunters.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The festival will also include a variety show paying tribute to the late Pee-Wee Herman, and a reunion of the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords (Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie).—
Charlie Vargas,
Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Musical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/musical. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
