as in poems
a composition made up of 14 lines that rhyme in a fixed pattern
He wrote gushy sonnets to his girlfriend when he was away at camp.
Related Words
Relevance
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 sonnets
If Wyatt and Surrey could pen brilliant sonnets under Tudor tyranny, then certainly great art can be produced under capitalism despite its particular degradations.
—
Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
Today’s large language models can write sonnets and debug code.
—Nicole Fraenkel, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
The character is speaking sonnets and doing ‘Ozymandias’ as well.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 5 Feb. 2026
Ever wanted to dive into Shakespeare's sonnets or explore cinema analysis?
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 11 Jan. 2026
Some have suggested that the Bard had romantic liaisons with men, in part implied by sonnets that are charged with homoerotic elements.
—Nathan Smith, Time, 26 Nov. 2025
Seamus Heaney’s sonnets about Northern Ireland in the 1970s and Annie Ernaux’s memoirs of France in the 1960s propose indirect but approachable ways of engaging with personal and national history.
—Walt Hunter, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
To the west, the London Eye pirouettes above the skyline—to the east, Shakespeare’s Globe serves legendary sonnets.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
Today’s large language models can write sonnets and debug code.
—Nicole Fraenkel, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
The character is speaking sonnets and doing ‘Ozymandias’ as well.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 5 Feb. 2026
Ever wanted to dive into Shakespeare's sonnets or explore cinema analysis?
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 11 Jan. 2026
Some have suggested that the Bard had romantic liaisons with men, in part implied by sonnets that are charged with homoerotic elements.
—Nathan Smith, Time, 26 Nov. 2025
Seamus Heaney’s sonnets about Northern Ireland in the 1970s and Annie Ernaux’s memoirs of France in the 1960s propose indirect but approachable ways of engaging with personal and national history.
—Walt Hunter, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
To the west, the London Eye pirouettes above the skyline—to the east, Shakespeare’s Globe serves legendary sonnets.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sonnets
Noun
-
Over the years, more than 11,000 inscriptions have been found across the city, ranging from political commentary and love declarations to sporting slogans, jokes, and poems.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Across Pompeii, over 11,000 inscriptions have been found, including political commentary, love declarations, sporting slogans, jokes, and poems — the graffiti of its time, almost like an ancient Reddit board.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Her borderland upbringing in El Paso has also shaped her Spanglish lyrics.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The letters consist of scripts, shot lists and lyrics.—
Kara Frame,
NPR,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sonnets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sonnets. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
