Synonyms of hymnal

hymnal

noun

ˈhim-nəl 

as in hymnbook

a book of hymns

hymnals are distributed among the congregation before the church service so everyone can join in the singing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hymnbook
• psalmody
• Psalter
• hymnary
• missal
• breviary
• songbook
• songster
• antiphonary
• antiphonal

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hymnal

Onstage, musicians scroll through New Age worship lyrics on iPhones propped on tripods, where hymnals once might have been. — Tara Palmeri, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026

The Shaker hymnal, in the hands of the composer Daniel Blumberg, becomes a maddeningly infectious soundtrack. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2026

Some objects come with a bit of mystery, like this hymnal cover. — Molly Guthrey, Twin Cities, 19 Nov. 2025

To illustrate his point, Mogomo held up a copy of a hymnal in Shona, a local language spoken in many parts of Zimbabwe, drew inspiration from an English hymnal but is retrofitted to contain more culturally meaningful liturgy. — Liam Adams, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Nov. 2025