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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
This is specifically what informs the ethos of Jason Scott & The High Heat, a band that has come to be known equally for their raw talent as their rancorous lyrics. — Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026 Sheik’s influences ranged from Joni Mitchell and the Cocteau Twins to Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, while his lyrics drew on Buddhist philosophy and existential questions. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 18 Sep. 2026
Adjective
Guo’s performance had been approved in advance by the Wuhan authorities, but the lyric change was not, which may have violated regulations governing commercial performances, Chinese state media previously reported. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026 Entertainment Weekly reached out to Grande’s reps for comment at the time of the initial lyric changes. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 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
  • The poems push against the binaries of leaving and being left and embrace ongoing love in the wake of loss.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Taken together, these masterworks mirror Prieto’s own process, which often uses chance as a springboard for composition and which harnesses ephemera — memories, scents, poems, or even architectural fragments — to create new work.
    — Jill Singer, Curbed, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of poem
Noun
  • The nineteenth century saw authors in other countries (Germany, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Norway) attempting to firm up their nationalist claims by ransacking popular ballads, rustic legends, and oral traditions.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
  • But Robin Hood, the ballads all postdate the Peasants’ Revolt and were wildly popular and continued to resonate and echo down.
    — Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of ballad
Adjective
  • Making Shakespeare’s plays accessible is a noble goal, but there are other ways to go about this beyond modernizing the text and diluting its lyrical beauty and nuance.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Even today Guadalajara's most forward-looking designers continue to experiment with these deeply rooted tropes, from the lyrical modulation of their city's radiant light to the proud application of local oficios.
    — Michael Snyder, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of lyrical
Adjective
  • In between the swaggering pronouncements, Jaggseer waxes poetic about dusty roads and Chevy trucks and reflects on humble beginnings and hard work.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The narrow lens of her attention can be viewed as a poetic feature played out at length over her nonfiction essays and books.
    — Amy Cannon, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of poetic
Noun
  • The full list of pairs and their premiere dance styles and songs can be found here.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Maresca’s team-mates from his early playing days at West Bromwich Albion in England fondly recall his unselfconscious warbling of Italian pop songs in the locker-room showers.
    — Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of song
Noun
  • One of the entrants for the Festival Poems had been a sham Wordsworthian hymn to the poor flowers.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The crowd listened in silence as the Polynesians, wearing blue fire uniforms, sang a Tahitian hymn in harmony while two of them strummed ukuleles.
    — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of hymn
Adjective
  • Van Sonderen continued with the duo Zonderling, alongside writing and production work across house, melodic techno, pop and hip-hop under his producer name, NSR.
    — Katie Bain, Billboard, 17 Sep. 2026
  • And in January, when Winter gave a spellbinding solo performance at a New York club under the name Chet Chomsky, Green opened the show with her own set of bittersweet, melodic gems that sounded nothing like Geese.
    — Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 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 20 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lyric

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lyric

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