spirituals

plural of spiritual

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 spirituals Delta musicians also often used call-and-response patterns, which were common in African music and were used in other blues styles and in African American sacred music, including spirituals. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026 Over his career, Sykes performed in venues around the world and across genres — opera, gospel, spirituals, show tunes, folk and pop — working with figures including Renée Fleming, Terence Blanchard, Carlos Santana, Julie Andrews and Brian Wilson. — Jazmin Alvarado, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026 This vibrant, free afternoon concert will feature a rich selection of beloved American choral favorites, including rousing gospel selections, powerful spirituals, and timeless classics that resonate across generations, a news release stated. — News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026 The music is eclectic and includes sounds associated with Islam as well as bluegrass, hymns and spirituals. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026 At Merkin Hall, Chanticleer rings in the semiquincentennial with a new work by Trevor Weston, which spotlights the legacy of African American spirituals. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026 As iconic church songs that have crossed over into secular spirituals, they were written to be memorable and singable, crowd-tested for at least a couple of generations. — David W. Stowe, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026 With elements of jazz, gospel and spirituals incorporated into the music, the song was a British homage to Black American music traditions. — Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2026 America’s long struggle against racial segregation was accompanied by a righteous soundtrack of spirituals and gospel and soul music, anthems that channeled sanctified fervor into the fight for equality. — Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spirituals
Noun
  • In the southernmost car, dozens press together and sway in their prayer shawls to the hymns of the morning service.
    — Ben Corn, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The scholar of religion Friedrich Max Müller (1823–1900) noticed that many Vedic hymns praise different deities using the same superlatives and ascribe to them the same mythological feats.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The welcome ceremony also included a flyover by two B-1 bombers, platoons from each military service, and a presentation of the flags and anthems of both countries.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The welcome ceremony was also set to include a flyover by two B-1 bombers, flower presenters, platoons from each military service, and a presentation of the flags and anthems of both countries.
    — Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Psalm 23 is numbered Psalm 22 in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate because of differences in how the psalms are divided and numbered.
    — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Because the psalms were originally accompanied by instruments, scholars’ best guess is that selah was some sort of musical marking.
    — Drew Goins, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spirituals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spirituals. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster