as in song
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment
a haunting ballad about lost love and loneliness
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ballad
In between are lush and smoky country ballads shot through with irresistible melodies.
—
Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2026
The Asian version will take flight after the original contest takes place in Vienna in May, with 35 countries competing in the singing contest known for outrageous costumes, towering ballads and high-energy performances.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 31 Mar. 2026
Bruzzone’s vocals seesaw between throat-buzzing alien croaks and clean vocals that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Mars Volta ballad.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 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, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ballad
Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2026
The Asian version will take flight after the original contest takes place in Vienna in May, with 35 countries competing in the singing contest known for outrageous costumes, towering ballads and high-energy performances.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 31 Mar. 2026
Bruzzone’s vocals seesaw between throat-buzzing alien croaks and clean vocals that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Mars Volta ballad.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 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, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ballad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballad
Noun
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Listen to song after song and his funny quirks turn repetitive, with an overreliance on bass-heavy Detroit-meets-Memphis Young & Turnt 2 type beats that sound straight off the CMG assembly line.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
15 Apr. 2026
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Those shows were highlighted by segments on a smaller b-stage where the artists transformed NIN songs into new electronic arrangements.—
SPIN Staff,
SPIN,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The music is eclectic and includes sounds associated with Islam as well as bluegrass, hymns and spirituals.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
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The Liberty City rapper born Maurice Samuels isn’t exactly belting out church hymns.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Sitting at a baby grand piano, Mars prompted swoons with his delivery of the lyrics, his pure voice holding notes with the same muscularity as early in the show.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
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Allen’s transition to more intimate and confessional lyrics took some time, however.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The sky cleared just as Nasdaq's opening anthem rolled across the yard, and Cook stepped forward to ring the bell.—
MacKenzie Sigalos,
CNBC,
4 Apr. 2026
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Like all other private and public enterprises in Germany, these guilds now began their meetings with anthems and Hitler salutes.—
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But Lincoln controls the whole tempo, the complete vibe of the affair with her epic vocals, effortless charm, and wonderful instincts.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
12 Apr. 2026
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His vocals, at least, were warm and flawless, though.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Previous lullaby album renditions have included versions of music by the Backstreet Boys, Ariana Grande and Marvin Gaye.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
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That tourism-ad Zambia, with views of Mosi-oa-Tunya and sunrises that bled color into the marshmallow-white of the clouds through the raging waterfall, or the sound of Lake Bangweulu whipping the white beach as lullaby.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ballad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballad. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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