1
as in poems
a composition using rhythm and often rhyme to create a lyrical effect
would you care to read your short lyric aloud?
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in songs
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment
the guitarist sang a gentle lyric while playing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lyrics
Meanwhile, in the White House briefing room this week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio filled in for Karoline Leavitt, the press secretary now on maternity leave, quoting rap lyrics in response to questions about Iran.
—
Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
The musical features a book and lyrics by Dan Marshall and music by Julianne Wick Davis.
—Staff Report, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
Back in the Bay Area, federal prosecutors have recently undertaken a similar analysis of another popular Northern California rapper’s lyrics.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 7 May 2026
The production is cold, distant, and uncertain, like the world lately, but within the song the lyrics feel warm and comforting.
—Time, 6 May 2026
The fact that the lyrics openly criticized the military and called for action was probably lost on my eight-year-old self, but the beauty of the melody was not.
—Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
The book uses prose and lyrics to explore common misconceptions about rap and rappers.
—A.d. Carson, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
Haines’ dynamic vocals often bail out the more inelegant lyrics.
—Ethan Beck, Pitchfork, 4 May 2026
Lawson not only conceived the tribute project and created its cover art (strips of Velvet song lyrics collaged into the shape of a bird in flight) but used to perform with Velvet and has a rare understanding of his songwriting style.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 12 Apr. 2025
Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
The musical features a book and lyrics by Dan Marshall and music by Julianne Wick Davis.
—Staff Report, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
Back in the Bay Area, federal prosecutors have recently undertaken a similar analysis of another popular Northern California rapper’s lyrics.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 7 May 2026
The production is cold, distant, and uncertain, like the world lately, but within the song the lyrics feel warm and comforting.
—Time, 6 May 2026
The fact that the lyrics openly criticized the military and called for action was probably lost on my eight-year-old self, but the beauty of the melody was not.
—Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
The book uses prose and lyrics to explore common misconceptions about rap and rappers.
—A.d. Carson, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
Haines’ dynamic vocals often bail out the more inelegant lyrics.
—Ethan Beck, Pitchfork, 4 May 2026
Lawson not only conceived the tribute project and created its cover art (strips of Velvet song lyrics collaged into the shape of a bird in flight) but used to perform with Velvet and has a rare understanding of his songwriting style.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 12 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lyrics
Noun
-
Kang amasses writings from over the course of her career, beginning with her Nobel lecture and reaching deep into her life’s documents, with diaries, poems, and photographs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 May 2026
-
Paige Dungan has spent most of her years around books, from being read poems by her mother, to spending more than 20 years marketing books, to writing her own book.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some stories plant deep in your creative brain and come out through songs heard on the radio and random daydreams in the shower.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
-
Gorman’s songs have charted on Billboard, and his YouTube account has more than 380 million streams.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Not that the album can really be divided into ballads and rockers.—
Brendan Hay,
SPIN,
27 Apr. 2026
-
His silky ballads are uniformly thoughtful and well-constructed, but lack the pathos that would give them greater depth and dimension.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
When kuru’s vocals get more monotone, Backstage hologram ornaments the toplines with gorgeous digital keyboard parts that reference the crusty, low-res soundtracks of Nintendo DS-era RPGs like Pokemon Diamond & Pearl.—
Jude Noel,
Pitchfork,
30 Apr. 2026
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There are soaring layers of harmony vocals, a glistening 12-string-guitar part, driving drum fills that speed the song forward.—
Jack Hamilton,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Sometimes that battle is filtered through songs that sound like show tunes or gospel hymns.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
2 May 2026
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In some public schools, including in large cities such as Philadelphia, students of all religions were required to read the Bible and sing Protestant hymns.—
David Mislin,
The Conversation,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lyrics.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lyrics. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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