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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Recent Examples of ballads
An old soul with with a huge, commanding voice, his catalog hovers between the orchestral swoon of pre-rock ballads, the pristine melodies of Anita Baker and the rangy, resilient yearning of his hometown’s soul tradition.
—
Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
That success — as well as surviving his own murder attempt — has sparked a nationwide infatuation of Harfuch, which includes merchandise and popular ballads praising him.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
The show ebbed and flowed with precision, with the uptempo jams countered by Mars’ considerable arsenal of ballads.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Elsewhere on the project, Bowlin, aided by producer David Ferguson (Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson), moves between honky-tonk-laden melodies and murder ballads, sometimes even dipping his toe into the sphere of alternative rock.
—Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
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
His lot has electricity, a shack for storage, a living room with a TV and a sound system that blasts Spanish-language ballads through the encampment — or Usher, depending on the mood.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
In stark contrast to the treacly ballads of 2025’s Every Video Without Your Face, Every Sound Without Your Name, Mr Cobra is all jagged edges, informed by free jazz, musique concrète, and experimental cinema.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 Mar. 2026
Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
That success — as well as surviving his own murder attempt — has sparked a nationwide infatuation of Harfuch, which includes merchandise and popular ballads praising him.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
The show ebbed and flowed with precision, with the uptempo jams countered by Mars’ considerable arsenal of ballads.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Elsewhere on the project, Bowlin, aided by producer David Ferguson (Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson), moves between honky-tonk-laden melodies and murder ballads, sometimes even dipping his toe into the sphere of alternative rock.
—Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
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
His lot has electricity, a shack for storage, a living room with a TV and a sound system that blasts Spanish-language ballads through the encampment — or Usher, depending on the mood.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
In stark contrast to the treacly ballads of 2025’s Every Video Without Your Face, Every Sound Without Your Name, Mr Cobra is all jagged edges, informed by free jazz, musique concrète, and experimental cinema.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballads
Noun
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But those are two very different movies, and there aren’t enough achingly tender John Prine songs in the world to paper over the gap between them.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
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Who would have thought a suite of songs that cover being annoyed at TV chef Jamie Oliver and some rich Tesla driver moving into an old flame’s flat would be so comprehensively devastating?—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
9 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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Newman often seems to be reciting his lyrics, even incanting them, reverent and repetitive.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Pitchfork,
8 Apr. 2026
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At times, that means dense lyrics that almost feel unwieldy, which Taub cleverly addresses early on.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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David Bowie — whose transcendent anthems ring out at key moments in this production — might call them the people on the edge of the night.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The singer, known for her powerhouse vocals and acrobatic stage shows, dipped her toe into hosting duties back in March by guest-hosting The Kelly Clarkson Show.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
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Labrinth, the British singer and songwriter whose ethereal vocals have served as Euphoria’s musical identity, will not feature in Season Three of the HBO hit, Rolling Stone has confirmed.—
Shirley Halperin,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ballads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballads. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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