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
Such is the case for Phil Collins, Madonna, Beyoncé and Billy Joel, who all used the experience of parenthood to inspire some of our favorite ballads and pop tunes that have stood the test of time.
—
Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Interspersed with folk ballads, this fantasia-like play certainly creates a mood, but struggles to tell a cohesive story.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Most are protest songs played as upbeat Mexican cumbias or as corridos, a style of ballad that often narrates the experiences of working class people.
—Adrian Florido, NPR, 16 Apr. 2026
High enough to swipe the title of the Backstreet Boys’ classic teen-pop ballad for this junior-dubstep jam.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ballad
Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Interspersed with folk ballads, this fantasia-like play certainly creates a mood, but struggles to tell a cohesive story.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Most are protest songs played as upbeat Mexican cumbias or as corridos, a style of ballad that often narrates the experiences of working class people.
—Adrian Florido, NPR, 16 Apr. 2026
High enough to swipe the title of the Backstreet Boys’ classic teen-pop ballad for this junior-dubstep jam.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ballad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballad
Noun
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The recent yacht rock renaissance has elevated the profile of both the song and of singer-songwriter Christopher Cross, restoring its status as a certifiable bop after years spent wandering in the desert of unintentional camp.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
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Set within the shadowy world of female poker grifters and featuring original song, the movie follows a once-loyal sisterhood as shifting alliances—and a triple-con—fracture the bond that once held them together.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
Noun
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In some public schools, including in large cities such as Philadelphia, students of all religions were required to read the Bible and sing Protestant hymns.—
David Mislin,
The Conversation,
27 Apr. 2026
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The hour-long event included mournful hymns, prayers and the laying of wreaths by the participants, which included representatives from many countries around the world.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The lyrics suggest a child reaching out to his mother from within the womb, vulnerable and uncertain.—
Ben Cardew,
Pitchfork,
2 May 2026
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And then suddenly, lyrics were coming out, ideas were coming out.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
1 May 2026
Noun
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Fortunately, the crowd did something very cool and chimed in to help out anthem singer Cami Clune.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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This new 20-minute epic was the band’s Crazy Horse moment, their idea of a rock anthem that starts with a tuneful, melancholy song and then proceeds to deconstruct it with loud report.—
Stephen M. Deusner,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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When kuru’s vocals get more monotone, Backstage hologram ornaments the toplines with gorgeous digital keyboard parts that reference the crusty, low-res soundtracks of Nintendo DS-era RPGs like Pokemon Diamond & Pearl.—
Jude Noel,
Pitchfork,
30 Apr. 2026
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There are soaring layers of harmony vocals, a glistening 12-string-guitar part, driving drum fills that speed the song forward.—
Jack Hamilton,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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And finally, along comes Katniss, who in the middle of the 74th Hunger Games sings a dying Rue the lullaby that Lucy Gray sang on their picnic years ago, winning over the audience with her help.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
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Recently, Rockabye Baby, the world’s leading lullaby music brand, reimagined the project as a kid-friendly version.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ballad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballad. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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