ballads

noun

plural of ballad
as in songs
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

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 ballads While Dion’s enthusiasm might come as a surprise to fans more familiar with her soaring ballads, her appreciation for Metallica is hardly new. — Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 8 Nov. 2026 Was there anything about performing power ballads that bothered you? — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026 That means arbitrary Drake covers and Max B homages, smooth ballads on smashing cougars and dirty macking. — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026 The bouncy salsa tunes — as well as the melodic ballads — are still playing in my internal playlist. — George Diaz, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026 Its palette is broad, moving from comic to straight rap, from Cab Calloway swing to Beyoncé-style ballads, each idiom chosen for its dramatic purpose. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 Compton and Clark weave a folksy Celtic score, packed with thigh-slapping drinking songs, ethereal ballads and soaring earworms. — Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026 Apparently, at a KATSEYE concert, even the ballads aren’t allowed to stay grounded. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2026 Despite murder ballads being a country music tradition, programmers didn’t seem to embrace women doing it so gleefully. — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballads
  1. songs
  2. hymns
  3. lyrics
  4. anthems
  5. vocals
Noun
  • In Kot’s eyes, the band was stunting its artistic growth by becoming a familiar, corporate brand à la the Rolling Stones; for Bono, there were some good songs on Voodoo Lounge.
    — Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Keyboardist Jason Derlatka took over for two songs — also capturing Perry’s pipes with eerie precision.
    — Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of songs
Noun
  • At the conclusion of an English-language service interspersed with hymns in Arabic, the priest introduced Salazar, who stood up in the front row, smiling and waving.
    — Daniel Castro, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The atmosphere feels similar to Pentecostal churches, with the hymns and spiritual declarations very familiar to those sung in other churches.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of hymns
Noun
  • Not so, the guitarist affirms, while acknowledging that the lyrics could be read that way.
    — Katherine Turman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The band’s inscrutable lyrics and ramshackle approach make for songs that feel like unintentional and effortless anthems, rock ’n’ roll castoffs that catalyzed new possibilities.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of lyrics
Noun
  • Sincerity, stability, domesticity—those are harder sells for fans expecting quotable and clippable baddie anthems, which might make SWALLOW!
    — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 11 Nov. 2026
  • With more than three decades of touring under their belt, Weezer has built a devoted, multigenerational fanbase, bringing their catalog of alternative rock anthems to stages around the world.
    — Laura Mccranie, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of anthems
Noun
  • Over industrial/electro darkwave, MacKay was a composed presence, delivering vocals with casual ease, propping his foot on an amp while leaning into the crowd, and lightly resting his elbow on the mic stand.
    — Sarah Moroz, Pitchfork, 10 Nov. 2026
  • At 25 years old, the Mexican folk artist is an old-soul whose music is rooted in intimate lyrics and acoustic melodies, backed by his tender-yet-soulful vocals.
    — Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of vocals

Browse Nearby Words

ballad
ballads
ballast
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Cite this Entry

“Ballads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballads. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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