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

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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Recent Examples of poet May, an avid poet and gamer, had been struggling and increasingly withdrawn.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
  • Center of Attention Events founder and lead designer Michele Fox Gott oversaw every detail, using the painting as her muse.
    — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
  • But much like New York, his shapeshifting muse, Whitehead’s œuvre has a neighborhood for every taste and temperament.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 22 July 2026
Definition of muse
Noun
  • Travis Scott as the Bard Travis Scott makes his acting debut as the bard — the ancient Greek storyteller whose voice opens the film.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • The rapper, who has the small role of a bard in Nolan’s cinematic retelling of the Greek epic poem, weaves together Homer’s prose with modern lyricism on the ghostly track that alludes to Odysseus’ long journey.
    — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2026
Definition of bard

Browse Nearby Words

poesy
poet
poetaster
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Poet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poet. Accessed 25 Jul. 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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