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
Here are some of Robert Frost’s insights into how poetry works its magic:
Writing free verse is like playing tennis without a net.
—
Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for free verse
Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for free verse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for free verse
Noun
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In their bloody poetry, the human animal expands, often to terrifying capacity.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
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Her team is gathering writing from political prisoners, media criticism from inside mainstream newsrooms, stories of Hollywood censorship, profiles of the former head of Addameer and of a Palestinian rapper, poetry, and lots more.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But peace can be unsettling too, which the poem can capture.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
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To my astonishment, the classic poem became one of the most mind-expanding literary experiences of my life.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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As the crowd screamed every lyric back to them, Raya-García leaned down from the stage to sign autographs for fans losing their minds in the front row.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
14 Mar. 2026
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The lyrics seem to be very much from your imagination.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
14 Mar. 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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There was clear rhyme and reason to the availability.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
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His couplets—stitched together by a rhyme—typically saunter in contrary directions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The second half of the show opened with Reznor and Ross joined by Boys Noize on the remote stage for the equivalent of live remixes of Nine Inch Nails songs.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
12 Mar. 2026
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In putting the numbers togeher, Moore and the team didn’t want to just recreate the song from the films, but celebrate those numbers as a whole, playing into how each of the films have resonated with audiences around the world.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Free verse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free%20verse. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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