as in hymn
a religious song
the monks offered up a canticle at dawn on Easter morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of canticle
That’s the opening line of Slipknot’s rage-rot canticle.
—
Spin Contributor, SPIN, 12 Feb. 2025
The leaders of this communal canticle were the women of Boygenius — Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2023
The first was Bach’s glorious 12-part canticle, premiered in 1723 as the conclusion of the Christmas Vespers in Leipzig as a sort of meet-your-new-cantor demonstration of his powers.
—Washington Post, 17 Dec. 2021
For many students of Dante, Purgatory is the Divine Comedy’s central canticle poetically, philosophically, and psychologically.
—Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2021
Spin Contributor, SPIN, 12 Feb. 2025
The leaders of this communal canticle were the women of Boygenius — Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2023
The first was Bach’s glorious 12-part canticle, premiered in 1723 as the conclusion of the Christmas Vespers in Leipzig as a sort of meet-your-new-cantor demonstration of his powers.
—Washington Post, 17 Dec. 2021
For many students of Dante, Purgatory is the Divine Comedy’s central canticle poetically, philosophically, and psychologically.
—Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canticle
Noun
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On Saturday nights, when the Jewish Sabbath ends, Elia chants the zemirot, the traditional table hymns.—
Eli Sharabi,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
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Attendees bowed their head in prayer and sang along to hymns, while posters of Kirk lined the seats.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And on 57 minutes, Mark’s photograph was displayed on The Hawthorns’ two big screens, with supporters delivering a chorus of the club’s traditional anthem, The Lord’s My Shepherd.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
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The alt-rock band was in fine form throughout the 90-minute, 18-song set which was chockful of soaring anthems dating back to the 2000s.—
George A. Paul,
Oc Register,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Revered by all three Abrahamic religions, the psalms were often recited, read, and sung in routine worship.—
Brendan Ruberry,
semafor.com,
23 Sep. 2025
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Archbishop Bernard Hebda addressed some 2,000 people at the vigil, where psalms were sung and the silences burrowed deep in the wide room.—
Jesse Bedayn,
Twin Cities,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Canticle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canticle. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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