Synonyms of dirge

dirge

noun

ˈdərj 

as in lament

a composition expressing one's grief over a loss

bagpipes played a haunting dirge at the funeral for the fallen leader

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lament
• elegy
• requiem
• threnody
• taps
• monody
• elegiac

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• eulogy
• paean
• panegyric
• encomium

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dirge

The pioneering alt-country band returns with its first album in 30 years—a set of cryptic, languid dirges that feels defiantly out-of-time. — Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 17 Apr. 2026

Last year’s version had two good performances, in Onya and Jewels, and was otherwise a total dirge. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2026

Swedish singer-composer Anna von Hausswolff, whose cathedral melodies, intense vocals and doom-laden dirges share much in common with Nordic heavy-metal culture, specializes in mystery and grandiosity. — Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026

Thanksgiving can be delightful or draining, a festive feast or a dispiriting dirge. — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Nov. 2025