as in ballads
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment
a recording artist who arranges his own vocals
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Recent Examples of vocals
Lebohang Morake — the Grammy-winning South African composer behind the film’s opening Zulu vocals — filed a federal civil complaint in California on March 16 against the comedian, Learnmore Jonasi, alleging that the translation is false and damaging to his life’s work.
—
Joe Kottke, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
The trio trade verses and backing vocals while Puth defers to his heroes for their keyboards and guitar, respectively.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
Formed in Southern California in 2011, the group built its following on a genre-blurring sound that mixes alternative rock, indie pop and hip-hop influences, anchored by frontman Jesse Rutherford’s brooding vocals.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
The drums hit hard, the Bruno Mars sample is crisp throughout, and Kendrick and Rihanna’s vocals are perfectly clear.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2026
After that, Sanz agreed to offer his passionate vocals to the track.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2026
Remarkably, Williams’ original vocals are intact on the set.
—Melinda Newman, Billboard, 25 Mar. 2026
The vocals twitch as a backflipping commotion takes over the streets.
—Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
Since then, the lineup has changed several times and currently consists of Brian Johnson (vocals), Angus Young (guitar), Stevie Young (rhythm guitar), Matt Laug (drums), and Chris Chaney (bass).
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Joe Kottke, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
The trio trade verses and backing vocals while Puth defers to his heroes for their keyboards and guitar, respectively.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
Formed in Southern California in 2011, the group built its following on a genre-blurring sound that mixes alternative rock, indie pop and hip-hop influences, anchored by frontman Jesse Rutherford’s brooding vocals.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
The drums hit hard, the Bruno Mars sample is crisp throughout, and Kendrick and Rihanna’s vocals are perfectly clear.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2026
After that, Sanz agreed to offer his passionate vocals to the track.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2026
Remarkably, Williams’ original vocals are intact on the set.
—Melinda Newman, Billboard, 25 Mar. 2026
The vocals twitch as a backflipping commotion takes over the streets.
—Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
Since then, the lineup has changed several times and currently consists of Brian Johnson (vocals), Angus Young (guitar), Stevie Young (rhythm guitar), Matt Laug (drums), and Chris Chaney (bass).
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vocals
Noun
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In stark contrast to the treacly ballads of 2025’s Every Video Without Your Face, Every Sound Without Your Name, Mr Cobra is all jagged edges, informed by free jazz, musique concrète, and experimental cinema.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
23 Mar. 2026
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Yet the ballads are also strong, conveying palpable sorrow as the family members figure up their losses.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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These outsized musical personalities often leave more distinctive fingerprints on the songs than the BTS members themselves do.—
Mitch Therieau,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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The centerpiece is Love Rocks, built around seven songs by Lenny Kravitz.—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That same urban canyon effect made lyrics even harder to catch.—
Yook JiHun,
Popular Science,
26 Mar. 2026
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With their blissful harmonies and flowery, mystical lyrics, the Texas duo embodied soft rock, ushering in the genre at the dawn of the Seventies with a gentle nudge and a tip of Seals’ signature newsboy cap.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The first is rewriting public-domain hymns with community members to sing at protests.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
11 Mar. 2026
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Instead, the words written in her autobiography served as the guide for the two-hour service filled with hymns and scriptures, as Christ Episcopal Church rector Father Jonathan Archer read a passage from the book which was published in 2000 during her memorial on Friday.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vocals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vocals. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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