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
Videos featuring the lyrics to Disney songs can be popular on social media and video platforms. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026 From the first, Prikryl mixes her life story into her characters’ speeches, while the autobiographical lyrics begin to feel like dramatic monologues in disguise. — Langdon Hammer, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
Adjective
And so lyric arrives, unbridled by the laws of grammar, pressing its hooves to the measure of music. — Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026 This Special puzzle features lyric references, cultural landmarks and even historic events tied to Dylan. — Atoosa Moinzadeh, New York Times, 1 Oct. 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
  • More than 40 years after making his directorial debut with Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985), and penning the poem that would eventually inspire The Nightmare Before Christmas, Burton is expanding his artistic remit once more.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Some were traveling to funerals, weddings and family reunions that the poet laureate commemorated in a poem written in minutes.
    — Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of poem
Noun
  • The bouncy salsa tunes — as well as the melodic ballads — are still playing in my internal playlist.
    — George Diaz, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026
  • An old-soul, Jiménez’s music is rooted in Latin ballads backed by real-life and personal storytelling.
    — Natalia Cano, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of ballad
Adjective
  • Why these sections have been singled out for annotation is a mystery, given that there are more dramatic and more obviously lyrical moments elsewhere in the poem.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
  • And, yes, this rendition represented a lyrical alteration by the Tonji that departed from the traditional wording of the French national anthem.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of lyrical
Adjective
  • Not every character comes fully into focus, but among the most quietly vivid is a guy named Devon (the actor and comedian Nigil Whyte), who can applaud Peter’s embrace of fatherhood one moment and wax poetic about the joys of fisting the next.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026
  • These songs leave a lot to the imagination, so these kids are summoned in these poetic portraits.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of poetic
Noun
  • The Jamaican musical style grew from an encounter between African and European traditions, and its banjos, guitars, hand percussion, and rumba boxes accompanied dancing, drinking, storytelling, and songs about life’s daily irritations.
    — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Per a bio, the sisters wrote hundreds of songs together and performed more than 1,000 concerts around North America and in Norway.
    — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of song
Noun
  • Nothing more than a reminder that the quotidian world around us can be a hymn all by itself.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • 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
Definition of hymn
Adjective
  • That decision paid off, as the gorgeous album marries thoughtful and melodic production with deeply personal storytelling about the member’s families and upbringings.
    — Katie Bain, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2026
  • With delirious melodic instincts, the Bronx rapper’s new tape evokes Young Money-era swag on a SoundCloud budget.
    — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 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 8 Nov. 2026.

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