songs

noun

plural of song
1
as in ballads
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment she sang a little-known song for the talent show

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in poems
a composition using rhythm and often rhyme to create a lyrical effect the songs of Shakespeare

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in melodies
a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect whistle a song as accompaniment to your work

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in poetries
writing that uses rhythm, vivid language, and often rhyme to provoke an emotional response a hero honored in song and story

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 songs The production features songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, a book by Tim Federle and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026 Their friendship was one of many laughs, songs and adventures. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026 His son Jakob wrote songs for the film’s fictional band, Analog Dogs. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026 The songs of Boy George, Sylvester, and Prince are lifelines—the homoerotic cover of Prince’s 1988 album, Lovesexy, is an especially powerful beacon. — Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026 This strategy gives songs time to find an audience and take hold without being drowned out by an influx of summer releases. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026 Her first two albums have distinct sonic identities, but the songs sometimes bleed into one another. — Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026 The lessons of the civil rights movement, the language and songs of homelands, our stories, music and cuisines, have so much power. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026 The finished album also reaches much further back, reviving three previously unheard songs Young originally wrote in 1963 alongside newer compositions. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 7 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for songs
  1. ballads
  2. poems
  3. melodies
  4. lyrics
  5. tunes
  6. hymns
  7. vocals
  8. jingles
Noun
  • Their videos work as a modern take on the narcocorridos – ballads about the trafficking underworld that drug kingpins used to praise themselves and communicate with each other, said security expert Alexei Chévez.
    — Rey Rodríguez, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Much of Tulu literature and folklore has been preserved through oral tradition, especially epic ballads called paddanas.
    — Andrew Pereira, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of ballads
Noun
  • Working in both color and in black and white, his subjects — sometimes family, sometimes random people, sometimes buildings or streets with nobody in sight — can have the warmth and intensity of his poems.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026
  • For Fried is, as his poems prove, a writer attuned to the shape of thought and the sound of a word.
    — Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of poems
Noun
  • For centuries most Western Classical music was based on tonality, a system in which melodies and harmonies revolve around a central key.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The fifth annual International Guitar Festival gathers performers from Colombia, Israel, Italy and America, showcasing melodies from around the world.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of melodies
Noun
  • Writer-director Jesse Eisenberg (A Real Pain, NYFF62), who also wrote the show’s music and lyrics, keeps things expertly balanced on a knife’s edge between musical theater satire and cathartic character study.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
  • On Tuesday, Netflix released a video of Norwood performing the reboot’s theme song, which features an original beat and lyrics from previous versions sung by Phoebe Snow, Aretha Franklin, Boyz II Men, and Terrence Forsythe.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of lyrics
Noun
  • The ranking measures the tunes that rack up the largest total number of audience impressions across radio stations throughout the United States, with no restriction on genre.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The youngsters head out on a journey full of friendship, love, rocking tunes and bad puns.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of tunes
Noun
  • Faithful gather to sing hymns and sip Bloody Marys, and a revolving cast of chaplains, including one who once served at the University of Texas chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, lead services.
    — Pam LeBlanc, Southern Living, 20 July 2026
  • One of six children, Tyler grew up idolizing Tina Turner and Janis Joplin and singing hymns in the Anglican church her parents attended.
    — Adela Suliman, NBC news, 9 July 2026
Definition of hymns
Noun
  • In the clip, Norwood signals the engineer before launching into a performance of the theme, which captures the songstress delivering impassioned vocals over a pulsating instrumental.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The rest of the track is otherwise rendered well, with Callahan’s vocals sounding full and rich in texture.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of vocals
Noun
  • Aronow started out as a performer herself, her childhood spent singing popular jingles for Hasbro and Kidz Bop.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Most commercial content hits viewers with messages, jingles and even cute mascots.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 29 July 2026
Definition of jingles

Browse Nearby Words

songlike
songs
songsmith
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Cite this Entry

“Songs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/songs. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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