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
Malek last showcased his vocals in his Oscar-winning turn as Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
—
Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025
Moreover, Nina White and Tatum Grace Hopkins, who portrayed Jackie’s daughter Victoria and niece Jonquil, respectively, stand alongside Chenoweth with their own powerhouse vocals.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
Using his falsetto vocals, this was one of the songs of the summer, blending '80s synth-pop and new wave, with touches of '70s-era funk and blues.
—Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
With Thornton on lead vocals, the group opened two August shows for The Who during that seminal rock band's final tour.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Lightfoot’s vocals were added later, as his crisply enunciated singing, vivid lyrics and Irish-style folk melody sold the storytelling.
—Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 9 Nov. 2025
The self-laceration is done on Damon Albarn Time, though, as Idles’ usual anxious guitar rave-ups are slowed and stripped here to a skipping, reggae-ish crawl, as synths squeak in the background and Albarn offers support via his forever-distant, disembodied backing vocals.
—Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 7 Nov. 2025
When the vocals layer up at the end?
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025
Her vocals appeared on seven of the band's albums, notably on live sets such as Europe '72 and studio records including Terrapin Station and Shakedown Street.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025
Moreover, Nina White and Tatum Grace Hopkins, who portrayed Jackie’s daughter Victoria and niece Jonquil, respectively, stand alongside Chenoweth with their own powerhouse vocals.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
Using his falsetto vocals, this was one of the songs of the summer, blending '80s synth-pop and new wave, with touches of '70s-era funk and blues.
—Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
With Thornton on lead vocals, the group opened two August shows for The Who during that seminal rock band's final tour.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Lightfoot’s vocals were added later, as his crisply enunciated singing, vivid lyrics and Irish-style folk melody sold the storytelling.
—Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 9 Nov. 2025
The self-laceration is done on Damon Albarn Time, though, as Idles’ usual anxious guitar rave-ups are slowed and stripped here to a skipping, reggae-ish crawl, as synths squeak in the background and Albarn offers support via his forever-distant, disembodied backing vocals.
—Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 7 Nov. 2025
When the vocals layer up at the end?
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025
Her vocals appeared on seven of the band's albums, notably on live sets such as Europe '72 and studio records including Terrapin Station and Shakedown Street.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vocals
Noun
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But in their early years, Jagger and Richards were relatively focused on traditional British songcraft, especially in their ballads.—
John Lingan,
Rolling Stone,
8 Nov. 2025
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Over the next 300 years, chapbooks and broadside ballads became mainstays in Britain.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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According to the lawsuit, the pair filed notices of termination in 2022 to reclaim the rights to those songs, which were released by its subsidiaries Next Plateau London Records.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Using his falsetto vocals, this was one of the songs of the summer, blending '80s synth-pop and new wave, with touches of '70s-era funk and blues.—
Andy Hoglund,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Harbour also recently made headlines following the release of estranged wife Lily Allen's latest album, West End Girl, which contained references many interpreted as pointing toward alleged unfaithfulness on Harbour's part, though the actor isn't explicitly named in the lyrics.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
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Three songwriters from each category will be selected, celebrating artists whose lyrics and melodies have made a lasting impact on music.—
Bryan West,
Nashville Tennessean,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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This climax is steeped in ancient psalms and hymns but also the neat, museumlike minimalism of pop-culture descendants like Ye’s Sunday Service Choir operas.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
7 Nov. 2025
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Tutivillus, who totted up all the mistakes clergymen made when singing hymns or reciting psalms.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vocals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vocals. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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