as in ballads
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment
sung a little ditty in a minor key
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Recent Examples of ditties
The songs, by Randy Newman, are simple but charming little ditties, particularly the ensemble numbers where this makeshift band of misfits express their devotion to one another.
—
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
These plinking, whimsical ditties—each song lasts but a minute or two at most— are evocative in their simplicity, but deceptively rich in texture.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Later, orange lanterns carrying well-wishes floated toward the stars, mingling with the distant strains of Lao ditties from the karaoke machines of the ramshackle bars that lined the banks.
—Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Mar. 2026
However, there are some quirky ditties that even multigenerational Southerners might not have ever heard, or that people commonly use in the wrong way.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026
But perhaps the best aspect of Update was the return of Jane Wickline’s offbeat keyboard ditties.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Dec. 2025
Themes of community and sacrifice abound, as do bluegrass ditties penned by Paul Williams.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Nov. 2025
She’s best known for her enthusiastic and approachable ditties on key subjects, like potty training.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
These plinking, whimsical ditties—each song lasts but a minute or two at most— are evocative in their simplicity, but deceptively rich in texture.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Later, orange lanterns carrying well-wishes floated toward the stars, mingling with the distant strains of Lao ditties from the karaoke machines of the ramshackle bars that lined the banks.
—Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Mar. 2026
However, there are some quirky ditties that even multigenerational Southerners might not have ever heard, or that people commonly use in the wrong way.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026
But perhaps the best aspect of Update was the return of Jane Wickline’s offbeat keyboard ditties.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Dec. 2025
Themes of community and sacrifice abound, as do bluegrass ditties penned by Paul Williams.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Nov. 2025
She’s best known for her enthusiastic and approachable ditties on key subjects, like potty training.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ditties
Noun
-
Not that the album can really be divided into ballads and rockers.—
Brendan Hay,
SPIN,
27 Apr. 2026
-
His silky ballads are uniformly thoughtful and well-constructed, but lack the pathos that would give them greater depth and dimension.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The songs were radiant, ecstatic, and cleansing, a deep exhale from a band freed from boardroom expectations.—
Dan Stahl,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
-
Were these new songs recorded at the same time as the first batch?—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The hour-long event included mournful hymns, prayers and the laying of wreaths by the participants, which included representatives from many countries around the world.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Christian hymns were sung in English and Creole.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
An overflowing, towel-waving crowd filled the Honda Center before the anthems and let the Anaheim Ducks know Game 3 was something long craved.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Through more than 200 interviews and a blend of entertainment and education, the podcast highlights Kuti’s impact while incorporating the voices of women in his life and showcasing his musical works as anthems for freedom.—
Patrick Hipes,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The most immediate disruption may appear in commercial niches such as advertising jingles or podcast themes.—
Steven Melendez,
Scientific American,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The jingles and sounders used to identify CBS News network programming heard on the stations for decades have also been part of the listening experience.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The maudlin song, whose lyrics too sincere to be funny, will appear on the group’s upcoming Everyone for Ten Minutes, out May 22.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
30 Apr. 2026
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But the bluntness of the lyrics arrives just as quickly, undercutting the atmosphere by naming too plainly what the music had already begun to evoke with greater force.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ditties.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ditties. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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