as in song
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment
a haunting ballad about lost love and loneliness
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ballad
Such is the case for Phil Collins, Madonna, Beyoncé and Billy Joel, who all used the experience of parenthood to inspire some of our favorite ballads and pop tunes that have stood the test of time.
—
Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Interspersed with folk ballads, this fantasia-like play certainly creates a mood, but struggles to tell a cohesive story.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Most are protest songs played as upbeat Mexican cumbias or as corridos, a style of ballad that often narrates the experiences of working class people.
—Adrian Florido, NPR, 16 Apr. 2026
High enough to swipe the title of the Backstreet Boys’ classic teen-pop ballad for this junior-dubstep jam.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ballad
Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Interspersed with folk ballads, this fantasia-like play certainly creates a mood, but struggles to tell a cohesive story.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Most are protest songs played as upbeat Mexican cumbias or as corridos, a style of ballad that often narrates the experiences of working class people.
—Adrian Florido, NPR, 16 Apr. 2026
High enough to swipe the title of the Backstreet Boys’ classic teen-pop ballad for this junior-dubstep jam.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ballad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballad
Noun
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Josh is a skeptic who gets itchy whenever actors burst into song; Melissa is a believer who longs for a romance so transcendent that it can be expressed only in an airy glissando, opted up an octave.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
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The album, which is comprised almost wholly of covers spanning yacht rock mainstays, also includes one original Urban song to round the package out.—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Their ceremony began with a hymn sung by Darius’ favorite gospel singer, Jekalyn Carr, and guests were invited to sing along, the couple recalled to the outlet.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
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Christian hymns were sung in English and Creole.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Phil Lynott, the band's co-founder and lead singer, came up with the lyrics.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 2026
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His attorneys and the entertainers who wrote to the Supreme Court argue that such lyrics are protected free speech and have nothing to do with the crime committed.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Fortunately, the crowd did something very cool and chimed in to help out anthem singer Cami Clune.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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This new 20-minute epic was the band’s Crazy Horse moment, their idea of a rock anthem that starts with a tuneful, melancholy song and then proceeds to deconstruct it with loud report.—
Stephen M. Deusner,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Yes, Jaafar is actually singing while portraying Michael, with the late singer's vocals also being blended into some of the tracks.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 2026
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Brian Gibson’s gangrenous bass riffs and gibbering, muffled vocals have even more gonzo energy than usual, while Chippendale mixes bombast and finesse with his customary flair.—
Reed Jackson,
SPIN,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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And finally, along comes Katniss, who in the middle of the 74th Hunger Games sings a dying Rue the lullaby that Lucy Gray sang on their picnic years ago, winning over the audience with her help.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
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Recently, Rockabye Baby, the world’s leading lullaby music brand, reimagined the project as a kid-friendly version.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ballad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballad. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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