1
as in poem
a composition using rhythm and often rhyme to create a lyrical effect
would you care to read your short lyric aloud?
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2
as in ballad
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment
the guitarist sang a gentle lyric while playing
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1
as in lyrical
having a pleasantly flowing quality suggestive of music
they performed a slow, lyric dance for the audience
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in poetic
having qualities suggestive of poetry
the film's lyric photography really enhanced its romantic mood
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lyric
Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026
When his older brother pressed him further and alluded to the fact that the lyrics are presumably referencing the NFL tight end's manhood, Travis feigned innocence.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Neither one gets another step in its lyric imagery.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lyric
Noun
In Austin’s third collection, readers can expect his trademark gorgeously crystalline lyrics interspersed with more conversational wanderings, capturing new stages of life.
—Adjective
Animated by an irreverent zaniness, Egger’s poetry fuses elements drawn from contemporary idiom and from lyric tradition to render a surreal world that interrogates existential questions about desire and grief.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for lyric
Noun
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Last month, Universal Pictures released a teaser trailer for The Odyssey, adapted from Homer's ancient Greek poem of the same name.—
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The whimsical term has also been the title of countless poems, songs and books about remarkable coincidences or eureka moments.—
Noun
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In the ballad, the hero is betrayed by his cousin, who bleeds him too severely while administering a blood-letting cure.—
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The music video for the ballad, included on the deluxe edition of Cyrus's Something Beautiful, depicts Cyrus in a sculptural Iris van Herpen look that screams avant-garde.—
Adjective
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The San Bernardino band is a pioneer of the subgenre, which blends the traditional instrumentation of Mexican folk balladry with elements of American trap music, namely its beats and the gritty lyrical content that deals with matters of moving contraband, turf wars and endless hustle.—
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But Parton's heartfelt and lyrical promise also has a long history with the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis Presley.—
Adjective
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Marayrasu, his first collection of stories to receive an English translation, expands his reach, introducing readers to his tough yet richly poetic world.—
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As Jaclyn and Kate wax poetic about a dream vacation that never happened, Laurie’s weary, silent glances seem to tee up an explosive confrontation.—
Noun
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But thanks to some small wardrobe issues and then some bigger mic issues — and the biggest issue of it just not entirely connecting — the song was a flop.—
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Both in California and Iowa, many Jesus People were certain the events depicted in Larry Norman’s song would occur in either 1981 or 1988.—
Noun
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The dramatic arc of the film’s first half — filled with the ecstasy of God’s embrace and the agony of imprisonment — is told through musical numbers, adapted from the Shakers’ ecstatic worship, dance, hymns, and music (watch the video above to learn more).—
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The Christmas hymn was originally intended for a choir with a string quartet, percussion and piano, but Amato picked out a solo piano version of the piece written by musician Dan Forrest.—
Adjective
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Lopatin used fast, percussive strikes to keep the score melodic, incorporating mallet strikes to mirror the ping-pong balls.—
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Until the 1870s, Shaker music was monophonic, with a single melodic line sung in unison and without instrumental accompaniment.—
Adjective
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Svelte yet heavy, Clipse’s latest sees all their phonetic and poetical gifts rendered to subtly maximal effect, with their lithe vocals cresting Pharrell’s glossy surfaces like snowfall.—
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Through the map, like the ship, Pace argues, time, space, and place are linked to cultural, personal, poetical, and political memory.—
Cite this Entry
“Lyric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lyric. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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