as in song
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment
a haunting ballad about lost love and loneliness
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ballad
Yet despite their cultural staying power, power ballads have historically received little scholarly attention, in part because they are often dismissed as schlocky and banal.
—
Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 22 May 2026
The album’s name, Arirang, pays tribute to a treasured Korean folk ballad of the same name, which was famously the country’s first song, sung by Korean men, ever recorded (it was preserved for posterity by American ethnologist Alice Fletcher in 1896).
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2026
Dangerous Woman was almost called Moonlight, after the doo-wop inspired ballad that opens the album.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2026
This is like Céline Dion and Bon Jovi made a power ballad together.
—Charlie Harding, Vulture, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ballad
Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 22 May 2026
The album’s name, Arirang, pays tribute to a treasured Korean folk ballad of the same name, which was famously the country’s first song, sung by Korean men, ever recorded (it was preserved for posterity by American ethnologist Alice Fletcher in 1896).
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2026
Dangerous Woman was almost called Moonlight, after the doo-wop inspired ballad that opens the album.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2026
This is like Céline Dion and Bon Jovi made a power ballad together.
—Charlie Harding, Vulture, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ballad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballad
Noun
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Our mother, who had annoyed me deeply throughout most of my life, managed something so heroic that there should have been songs written about her to be sung around campfires by Girl Scouts.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
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The band has figured out how to flesh out one another’s songs while giving the songwriter who first came up with the idea complete creative control over the composition.—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
3 June 2026
Noun
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The hymn’s plea resounded in the cavernous venue after the director cut us off.—
Katie Thornton,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
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While watching a video about the Protestant church in Cuba, Calderon was proud to see the congregants singing his grandfather’s hymn.—
Richard J. Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 May 2026
Noun
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The filings aren’t really about protecting Swift’s lyrics or albums.—
Daryl Lim,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
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Dragstrem, who focuses more on production, has messed around with it but was left unsatisfied; McGill, who’s more lyrics-driven, wants nothing to do with the tech.—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
30 May 2026
Noun
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Charli and preeminent pop divas Olivia Rodrigo and Ariana Grande are releasing some of the bleakest music of their careers just in time for summer, the traditional season for party anthems and celebratory bangers.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
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Britpop anthem from the stands.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Noun
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The subtle backing vocals are Beatles-esque, too.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
29 May 2026
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And obviously, the massive vocals in the chorus.—
David Chiu,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
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In April 2019, Williams shared a nostalgic video of the two serenading her daughter Rowan with a Cheetah Girls hit-turned-lullaby via FaceTime.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
24 May 2026
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Say, for instance, a fluffy Sasquatch, or a crooner of a moon in pajamas singing an old-timey lullaby to all the little ones seated cross-legged on the floor.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ballad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballad. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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