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
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Recent Examples of ballads
Every year, these flashy performances — from classic movie-musical extravaganzas to Disney earworms to Bond themes to power ballads — are the highlight of an already ridiculously flashy ceremony.
—
Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
Turnpike Troubadours shows are communal affairs — a blend of high-energy jams and heartfelt ballads.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
The Grammy winner — who released the new album After Hours earlier this month — points to other rock bands who’ve found success with ballads, like Journey and Nickelback, as more ammunition for his frustration.
—Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
These interludes are like ballads in-between heavy power chord tunes at a stadium rock concert; an experience somewhat akin to watching a big loud action movie such as this.
—Richard Kuipers, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
Months after its release, singles from the Prodigy and the Chemical Brothers wound their way up the radio charts alongside alt-rock holdovers and glistening pop ballads.
—Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 21 Jan. 2026
These events will spotlight traditional musical practices, from Appalachian ballads to gospel choirs, and will feature key composers, musicians, and producers from North Carolina.
—Virginia Brown, Charlotte Observer, 30 Dec. 2025
Many of the favorite Christmas songs of a previous generation were torchy ballads.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2025
After a dozen songs in the seamless show, EWF slowed the pace for a segment spotlighting their seductive bedroom ballads.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 14 Dec. 2025
Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
Turnpike Troubadours shows are communal affairs — a blend of high-energy jams and heartfelt ballads.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
The Grammy winner — who released the new album After Hours earlier this month — points to other rock bands who’ve found success with ballads, like Journey and Nickelback, as more ammunition for his frustration.
—Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
These interludes are like ballads in-between heavy power chord tunes at a stadium rock concert; an experience somewhat akin to watching a big loud action movie such as this.
—Richard Kuipers, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
Months after its release, singles from the Prodigy and the Chemical Brothers wound their way up the radio charts alongside alt-rock holdovers and glistening pop ballads.
—Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 21 Jan. 2026
These events will spotlight traditional musical practices, from Appalachian ballads to gospel choirs, and will feature key composers, musicians, and producers from North Carolina.
—Virginia Brown, Charlotte Observer, 30 Dec. 2025
Many of the favorite Christmas songs of a previous generation were torchy ballads.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2025
After a dozen songs in the seamless show, EWF slowed the pace for a segment spotlighting their seductive bedroom ballads.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 14 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballads
Noun
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And since leaving prison in early January, the preacher has wasted no time in spreading his gospel in a tranche of new songs published on his social media platforms.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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Unlike many of his Latin pop predecessors, who released songs in English in hopes of broadening their audience, the singer has not recorded any full-length English material across his six studio albums.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
At the end of the service, after the hymns and prayers, the congregation stood to applaud, and the pastor stepped back.—
Sarah Bahari,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Feb. 2026
-
But a few Welsh place names have been added, along with Welsh-language hymns.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The song’s lyrics come from a poem his great grandmother penned more than a century ago.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
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More uncomfortable than the album’s distorted genrebending are Han’s lyrics, which narrate confessional and confrontational male desire.—
James Gui,
Pitchfork,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In addition, the anthems of each nation will not be played should any of the AINs take gold atop the podium for an event.—
Chris Sims,
IndyStar,
6 Feb. 2026
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The songs, by the female rock duo ARXX, make cathartic anthems of these grievances.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But Azor brushed aside their concerns and pushed them into a bathroom to record their vocals.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2026
-
That is always wonderful, to hear a crowd sing a band’s songs back to them, and it was especially appreciated in this instance as the vocals were a little lost in the churning maelstrom of rock coming from the stage.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ballads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballads. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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