as in poetry
verse that does not rhyme and does not have a regular rhythm
The author's free verse has a unique rhythmic intensity.
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Recent Examples of free verse
Rhyming poems, like Reed’s, have fallen out of style this century in favor of free verse.
—
Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2024
The book, first published in 1927, is organized according to the calendar, with a passage of free verse that evokes the qualities and pleasures of each month, a small monochrome drawing nearby, and, on the facing page, a full-color illustration of the sort to draw fascinated attention.
—Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 16 Nov. 2023
Taking its title from a Toni Morrison quote, Water Made Us employs free verse, voice memos from family and friends, and sterling arrangements crafted with L.A. producer McClenney to examine her past relationships.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 25 Sep. 2023
His sentences come out as free verse, a sort of Rust Belt beat poetry.
—Popular Mechanics, 14 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for free verse
Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2024
The book, first published in 1927, is organized according to the calendar, with a passage of free verse that evokes the qualities and pleasures of each month, a small monochrome drawing nearby, and, on the facing page, a full-color illustration of the sort to draw fascinated attention.
—Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 16 Nov. 2023
Taking its title from a Toni Morrison quote, Water Made Us employs free verse, voice memos from family and friends, and sterling arrangements crafted with L.A. producer McClenney to examine her past relationships.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 25 Sep. 2023
His sentences come out as free verse, a sort of Rust Belt beat poetry.
—Popular Mechanics, 14 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for free verse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for free verse
Noun
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Their position will allow Apache to engage in the community and inspire a love of poetry.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
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Colorado’s new poet laureate will help celebrate the state’s 150th anniversary — and the nation’s 250th — this year while continuing to teach kids about poetry, work with artists statewide, and advocate for the arts.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Last month, Universal Pictures released a teaser trailer for The Odyssey, adapted from Homer's ancient Greek poem of the same name.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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The whimsical term has also been the title of countless poems, songs and books about remarkable coincidences or eureka moments.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Known for his catchy melodies (from heaven), encouraging lyrics, and soulful samples, there was no doubt that his tribute would start the program strong.—
Essence,
Essence,
31 Jan. 2026
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As Santana’s guitar sang through the that night, the emotional crowd erupted into cheers before joining in unison to sing the lyrics.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The piece has the pattern of blank verse.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
27 Oct. 2025
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But Kantor wrote it in blank verse — little help for the script.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The couplets rhyme—mostly—but his rhythms are irregular, more implicit than embodied.—
Pete Tosiello,
Pitchfork,
27 Jan. 2026
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This chilling rhyme, read from a pop-up book called Mister Babadook, could also apply to our feelings on the film itself.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Coiling through some 16 minutes, 55 seconds, the song was his longest ever, and his only release of original writing since Tempest in 2012.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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Musically inclined, Douglas and James both spend time at the keyboard, accompanying themselves on songs that give form to their amorphous inner lives.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Free verse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free%20verse. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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