VOCAL Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

vocal 1 of 2

adjective

ˈvō-kəl

Definition of vocal

as in voiced

expressed or communicated by voice our cat is given to making strange vocal noises in the dead of night

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

vocal

2 of 2

noun

as in ballad

a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment a recording artist who arranges his own vocals

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 vocal

Adjective

In a key House race in Michigan, the Democratic candidate in the state's 7th Congressional District, William Lawrence has been increasingly vocal on Flock cameras. — Diana Paulsen, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, an increasingly vocal opposition to the data center formed among residents, led by those living closest to the site. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026

Noun

Known for his gruff vocals, LaMontagne first came to the scene in the early aughts as a timid troubadour. — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026 Select screenings will also include a choir to perform backing vocals. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vocal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vocal

Adjective

Sanders, who co-directed the original movie and voiced Stitch, reprised his voice-over role in the 2025 update.

— Justin Kroll, Deadline, 23 July 2025
Several cast members returned, including co-writer and co-director Chris Sanders, who created and voiced Stitch.

— Jordana Comiter, People.com, 24 May 2025

Definition of voiced

Noun

But Robin Hood, the ballads all postdate the Peasants’ Revolt and were wildly popular and continued to resonate and echo down.

— Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026
The project featured eight tracks that were mostly recorded in Spanish with the help of Rudy Pérez, a Grammy-winning producer behind some of the biggest ballads in Latin music.

— Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of ballad

Adjective

The setup gives OlloNi a face that can react visually without relying on spoken responses every time.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Evidence is needed to build a case for or against the role of firelight in promoting rich, spoken language in our species.

— Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of spoken

Noun

Fans are now allowed to move freely, but not standing for the song can draw scrutiny, such as when Bad Bunny remained seated in the stands as the song played at Game 3 of the 2025 American League Division Series.

— Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
This is the song’s first award nomination and her first fully country track since the original Red era.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of song

Adjective

For all their speed-to-market and trend obsessions, fashion companies struggle to update the systems and materials that go into their products, meaning churn reigns and improvements are consigned to that oft-uttered utopian destination known as ‘when there’s time’.

— Brooke Roberts-Islam, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Each line encourages a body to shift when uttered or even when read silently to oneself.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026

Definition of uttered

Adjective

Researchers at Yale University found that Spanish learners using Babbel for about 15 hours improved their oral proficiency by 100% in three months.

— StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026
The analysts raised their peak sales estimate for Merck's oral Lipfendra and increased the revenue consensus on Amgen's injectable Repatha.

— Jeff Marks, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of oral

Noun

The crowd listened in silence as the Polynesians, wearing blue fire uniforms, sang a Tahitian hymn in harmony while two of them strummed ukuleles.

— Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 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

Definition of hymn

Browse Nearby Words

vocabulary

vocal

vocalist

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Vocal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vocal. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of vocal

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

empirical

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes