poet

noun

ˈpō-ət How to pronounce poet (audio)
Definition of poetnext
as in minstrel
a person who writes poetry Emily Dickinson is famous as the poet who rarely left the house but often journeyed to the depths of the human heart

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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Recent Examples of poet May, an avid poet and gamer, had been struggling and increasingly withdrawn. — Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 18 July 2026 Prior to cinemas or concert halls, traveling poets would entertain crowds with tall tales of the Trojan War, its flawed heroes, the whims and meddling of the gods, and Odysseus’s perilous journey home. — Theodore McDarrah, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 The Iliad and The Odyssey are epic poems credited to the ancient Greek poet Homer. — Eliana Dockterman, Time, 17 July 2026 Social media users have pointed out that Nyong'o's African roots and darker complexion contradict the poet's description of the character. — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for poet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poet
  1. minstrel
  2. muse
  3. bard
Noun
  • The musician-scholar Rhiannon Giddens, a leading interpreter of 19th-century American songs, told me that discussing Foster’s context is difficult because minstrel entertainment is so little understood today.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
  • They were published in the North and South, performed in racist minstrel shows and polite parlors, and sung by abolitionists and defenders of enslavement alike.
    — Christopher Lynch, The Conversation, 1 July 2026
Definition of minstrel
Noun
  • Bi chooses Jude as his rival; Jude chooses the arctic wolf as their muse.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 July 2026
  • These days, no one brings out the stars quite like Nolan, who has counted Damon, Hathaway, Cillian Murphy, and Robert Pattinson among his many muses in recent years.
    — Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 24 July 2026
Definition of muse
Noun
  • In the film, Scott plays a Greek bard who sings about Odysseus’ victories in the Trojan War.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2026
  • There was also an opening around Ludwig Goransson's score and Travis Scott's role as an in-film bard that went largely unused.
    — Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of bard

Browse Nearby Words

poesy
poet
poetaster
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Cite this Entry

“Poet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poet. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on poet

Nglish: Translation of poet for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about poet

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