LYRIC Synonyms: 152 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

lyric 1 of 2

noun

ˈlir-ik

Definition of lyric

1

as in poem

a composition using rhythm and often rhyme to create a lyrical effect would you care to read your short lyric aloud?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

2

as in ballad

a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment the guitarist sang a gentle lyric while playing

Synonyms & Similar Words

lyric

2 of 2

adjective

1

as in lyrical

having a pleasantly flowing quality suggestive of music they performed a slow, lyric dance for the audience

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

as in poetic

having qualities suggestive of poetry the film's lyric photography really enhanced its romantic mood

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of lyric

Noun

Based on the Sparks novel, the musical features music and lyrics by Michaelson and a book by Brunstetter. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026 Reggaeton came from Puerto Rico, by way of reggae en español; her lyrics and rhythms were different, and the people collaborating with her came from electronica, not the island. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Adjective

In the accompanying lyric video, Swift also included sweet clips of a trip to Cleveland with Kelce. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 26 Sep. 2026 Prose poetry, the lyric essay and other hybrid forms of literature play at the intersection of genre, which usually defines these separate categories of writing. — Amy Cannon, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lyric

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lyric

Noun

The poem’s anguished meditations on love’s savagery and isolation are designed to draw blood.

— Merve Emre, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
His poems and books have been translated into Spanish, French, and Dutch.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of poem

Noun

Despite murder ballads being a country music tradition, programmers didn’t seem to embrace women doing it so gleefully.

— Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
With nearly 100,000 videos made to its official audio, the mid-tempo ballad has become a user favorite for soundtracking TV edits, clips of romantic yearning, and videos capturing the changing seasons.

— Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of ballad

Adjective

Lyubka’s compelling storytelling technique is detailed, lyrical, at times, humorous, and therefore deeply penetrating.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Nothing has an immersive and even philosophical or lyrical quality, and that is by design.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of lyrical

Adjective

By letting its subjects speak for themselves without imposing judgments, the film offers a poetic view of alternative ways of life.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 24 Oct. 2026
Leoal caught my eye with its delicate knitwear and effortless femininity, while Tadzio Reverie offered a fresh, poetic take on nautical dressing.

— Denni Hu, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of poetic

Noun

What elevates the greatest album of all time above more standard fodder for pregames and parking-lot smoke seshes is the neon current of romance running beneath its songs.

— Walden Green, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
In a video premiered on Monday, Cardi took over Tiny Desk and brought an eight-song masterclass in breath control, joy, and showmanship.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of song

Noun

At the conclusion of an English-language service interspersed with hymns in Arabic, the priest introduced Salazar, who stood up in the front row, smiling and waving.

— Daniel Castro, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026
At a campaign event held at a college chapel in Lindsborg, Hamilton led the crowd in a hymn and did not mention his opponent by name.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of hymn

Adjective

This range gives his work room to move between club music, melodic influences, and records centered on relationships and life experiences.

— Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
Those collaborations helped establish him as one of hip-hop’s most recognizable melodic voices even before the arrival of his first solo LP.

— Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of melodic

Adjective

There are ones who are more ideological, others more poetical.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026
Svelte yet heavy, Clipse’s latest sees all their phonetic and poetical gifts rendered to subtly maximal effect, with their lithe vocals cresting Pharrell’s glossy surfaces like snowfall.

— Peter A. Berry, Variety, 11 July 2025

Definition of poetical

Browse Nearby Words

lynx-eyed

lyric

lyrical

See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

Style

“Lyric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lyric. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

emissary

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't