as in ballads
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment
sung a little ditty in a minor key
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Recent Examples of ditties
But, as with effectively a new group needing to gel, time was always going to be required for heroes to emerge and inspire terrace chants to replace or supplement the ditties to ‘Super Paul Mullin’, ‘White Pele’ (Elliot Lee) et al.
—
Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 6 May 2026
The songs, by Randy Newman, are simple but charming little ditties, particularly the ensemble numbers where this makeshift band of misfits express their devotion to one another.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
These plinking, whimsical ditties—each song lasts but a minute or two at most— are evocative in their simplicity, but deceptively rich in texture.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Later, orange lanterns carrying well-wishes floated toward the stars, mingling with the distant strains of Lao ditties from the karaoke machines of the ramshackle bars that lined the banks.
—Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Mar. 2026
However, there are some quirky ditties that even multigenerational Southerners might not have ever heard, or that people commonly use in the wrong way.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026
But perhaps the best aspect of Update was the return of Jane Wickline’s offbeat keyboard ditties.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Dec. 2025
Themes of community and sacrifice abound, as do bluegrass ditties penned by Paul Williams.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Nov. 2025
She’s best known for her enthusiastic and approachable ditties on key subjects, like potty training.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 6 May 2026
The songs, by Randy Newman, are simple but charming little ditties, particularly the ensemble numbers where this makeshift band of misfits express their devotion to one another.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
These plinking, whimsical ditties—each song lasts but a minute or two at most— are evocative in their simplicity, but deceptively rich in texture.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Later, orange lanterns carrying well-wishes floated toward the stars, mingling with the distant strains of Lao ditties from the karaoke machines of the ramshackle bars that lined the banks.
—Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Mar. 2026
However, there are some quirky ditties that even multigenerational Southerners might not have ever heard, or that people commonly use in the wrong way.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026
But perhaps the best aspect of Update was the return of Jane Wickline’s offbeat keyboard ditties.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Dec. 2025
Themes of community and sacrifice abound, as do bluegrass ditties penned by Paul Williams.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Nov. 2025
She’s best known for her enthusiastic and approachable ditties on key subjects, like potty training.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ditties
Noun
-
The entertainment could be a little racier than being serenaded by a trio singing Greek power ballads at dinnertime.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
In the heart of the capital Praia, a city of under 200,000 residents, singers belt out morna ballads from restaurants — morna being Cape Verde's traditional music, with African and Portuguese influences.—
Ricci Shryock,
NPR,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
The show is still using some of those songs, giving the score’s relationship to the script a half-in, half-out near-jukebox feeling.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
5 June 2026
-
Maya, like Bassichis, did an act that was a bit standup, a bit performance art, broken up by dreamy, oddball songs.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
The album features mountain songs, ballads and folk hymns that celebrate traditional American music.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
4 June 2026
-
The service of hymns and prayer will be followed by a memorial roll call of members of the armed services who died in active duty.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
People are fixating on celebrities of all kinds, accusing singers of body-positive anthems of being hypocritical, rolling their eyes at athletes promoting weight loss drugs and whispering about the thinness of their favorite movie stars.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
The performance will be followed by a selection of anthems.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Commercial news bulletins are generally shorter than news bulletins on public or community stations and can also feature advertisements and jingles.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 May 2026
-
The most immediate disruption may appear in commercial niches such as advertising jingles or podcast themes.—
Steven Melendez,
Scientific American,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The album teams with moments like this, bits where the music might evoke a modern homespun permutation of greats like Daryl Hall and John Oates or even Prince, and the lyrics add new wrinkles to classic pop heartbreak.—
Jon Dolan,
Rolling Stone,
4 June 2026
-
Over the years, his lyrics haven’t changed much, but the perspective has shifted from observant kid caught in the mix to pushing-30 vet cutting memory tracks on the days when life was a lot simpler.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ditties.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ditties. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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