lyric 1 of 2

noun

ˈlir-ik How to pronounce lyric (audio)
Definition of lyricnext
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?

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in poetic
having qualities suggestive of poetry the film's lyric photography really enhanced its romantic mood

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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
The video showed the dad of two singing the lyrics to the track, with many commenting that the upload gave them goosebumps and left them sobbing. — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026 Across the seven tracks, WONHO contributed to the lyrics, composition, production, and arrangement throughout the album. — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Adjective
The song was paired with a lyric video that reuses two-decade-old footage shot by collaborator Cliff Watts, who also photographed Beyoncé’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 4 July 2026 According to a release from Parkwood Entertainment, the song arrives along with a lyric video directed by Cliff Watts that repurposes old footage. — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for lyric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lyric
  1. poem
  2. ballad
  3. lyrical
  4. poetic
  5. song
  6. hymn
  7. melodic
  8. poetical
Noun
  • That’s one of the things in the poem that’s breezed over—the way in which the crew ends up getting killed one by one, despite his leadership.
    — Eliana Dockterman, Time, 24 July 2026
  • Both the card and the poem speak of juxtaposition and the ramifications of decisions.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 July 2026
Definition of poem
Noun
  • Those digital Mellotrons balanced against Wilson’s dry 2000s alt-rock production cast Åkerfeldt’s ballads into a searching, uncanny drift at the outskirts of the metal landscape.
    — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 19 July 2026
  • While the non-prerecorded vocals were appreciated, his ballad felt oddly shoehorned into what was otherwise a vigorous, energetic halftime.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 19 July 2026
Definition of ballad
Adjective
  • While certain songs successfully couple lyrical and musical prowess to arrive at a stirring destination, not every track is quite as ambitious.
    — Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2026
  • In December and January, ZBB swapped sheds for Las Vegas’ Sphere with an eight-show residency that interwove captivating visuals with thoughtful lyrical storytelling.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 16 July 2026
Definition of lyrical
Adjective
  • That bite and raw intensity produce some of the album’s standout moments, transmuting jungle’s physicality across a wide emotional range with poetic verve and Nia’s woody, vulnerable, yet strident timbre.
    — Will Pritchard, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
  • The filmmaker achieves that through poetic narration that anthropomorphizes home.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 July 2026
Definition of poetic
Noun
  • The concert marked Phish’s 92nd performance at the famed arena, and the quartet celebrated by performing a setlist made up entirely of songs from its 1992 repertoire.
    — Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 23 July 2026
  • In Japan, fans come up with a song for each player and sing it happily and relentlessly.
    — Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of song
Noun
  • Faithful gather to sing hymns and sip Bloody Marys, and a revolving cast of chaplains, including one who once served at the University of Texas chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, lead services.
    — Pam LeBlanc, Southern Living, 20 July 2026
  • One of six children, Tyler grew up idolizing Tina Turner and Janis Joplin and singing hymns in the Anglican church her parents attended.
    — Adela Suliman, NBC news, 9 July 2026
Definition of hymn
Adjective
  • Back when Pitchfork could make or break bands, the website championed the London outfit, propelling the unlikely quintet from dorky purveyors of melodic dance songs to champions of the painfully cool.
    — David Harris, SPIN, 21 July 2026
  • The double bass became both the heartbeat and the guide of jazz, supporting the ensemble while adding its own rhythmic and melodic voice.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 July 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
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Cite this Entry

“Lyric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lyric. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lyric

Nglish: Translation of lyric for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lyric

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