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?
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in lyrical
having a pleasantly flowing quality suggestive of music
they performed a slow, lyric dance for the audience
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in poetic
having qualities suggestive of poetry
the film's lyric photography really enhanced its romantic mood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lyric
Frank Rizzo, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Rap lyrics have featured in hundreds of court cases in more than 40 states over the past 50 years, though judges often exclude other forms of creative expression from being used as evidence, researchers have found.
—Maria Sherman, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
The company has also rolled out machine-learning tools such as lyric translation and pronunciation features.
—Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lyric
Noun
The musical — a rock-and-raunch, goth-and-gay parody of cheesy, mid-century horror/sci-fi flicks — was created by Richard O’Brien (book, music, lyrics and who performed as the snarling butler Riff Raff).
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Rap lyrics have featured in hundreds of court cases in more than 40 states over the past 50 years, though judges often exclude other forms of creative expression from being used as evidence, researchers have found.
—Maria Sherman, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
The music video clip, as well as the lyric video, feature photos of McCartney in his younger years, including some with Lennon.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
The company has also rolled out machine-learning tools such as lyric translation and pronunciation features.
—Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lyric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lyric
Noun
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This isn’t the terrifying Frost of modernist criticism—although the poem is fully aware of darkness, and its world, on the cusp of World War I, like ours, certainly had its terrors.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Among her legion of fans are Stephen Colbert, Steve Buscemi, and Helena Bonham Carter who read from her poems in the documentary.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Not that the album can really be divided into ballads and rockers.—
Brendan Hay,
SPIN,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Nathan Morris, Wanyá Morris, and Shawn Stockman joined on stage and got the massive crowd swaying to the ballad.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
From the pristine production to the runs and riffs, Kehlani puts on a masterclass of technical songbuilding and lyrical storytelling.—
Adelle Platon,
VIBE.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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Her rapid-fire lyrical delivery with her two backup singers coupled with horns even more scintillating live illustrated why that song deserves its exclamation point.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Tugging on the heartstrings can be a cheap trick in the hands of the wrong songwriter, but the genre’s best songs are redeemed by a fastidious eye and a poetic ear.—
Jack Hamilton,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Some of the speeches are positively poetic.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Christian hymns were sung in English and Creole.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And, as a result, Magnolia Sage ventures into melodic ground for the artist.—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Smith probably won’t be the only listener surprised by the album, which combines some downtown rock with gentle, playful story-songs that swerve toward an almost Buddy Holly-ish melodic sweetness.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
There are ones who are more ideological, others more poetical.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Jan. 2026
-
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.—
Peter A. Berry,
Variety,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lyric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lyric. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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