1
as in instrumentalists
a person who plays a musical instrument
the violinist was a famous and exquisitely talented musician
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in composers
a person who writes musical compositions
that musician is known for having written music that is very difficult to perform
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of musicians
And over the course of three summers, Lilith Fair showcased a powerhouse collection of musicians, including Sheryl Crow, Tracy Chapman, Jewel, Fiona Apple, Bonnie Raitt, Erykah Badu, Sinead O’Connor and the Indigo Girls.
—
Michael Schneider, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Venice’s renowned La Fenice opera house is breaking ties with contentious incoming music director Beatrice Venezi, who has ties to Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, following months of protests by musicians.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
There certainly seem to be apparitions in this music, some presence apart from the four musicians and the throngs of fans, which is intensified by the visceral collision of so many sounds.
—Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 27 Apr. 2026
With Sunday’s first pitch, DiGesu joined fellow Mets-loving musicians like the Strokes’ Julian Casablancas and John Mayer in tossing the ceremonial pitch.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2026
All four musicians will still be busy with other musical pursuits.
—Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Thousands of fans attended the tribute, where musicians like Aloe Blacc and Kenny Lattimore took the stage.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
The fallout exposes tensions within punk between supporting progressive values and festival-dependent musicians supporting their livelihoods.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Prince, one of the world’s most enigmatic musicians, was famously private.
—Toni Odejimi, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
Michael Schneider, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Venice’s renowned La Fenice opera house is breaking ties with contentious incoming music director Beatrice Venezi, who has ties to Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, following months of protests by musicians.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
There certainly seem to be apparitions in this music, some presence apart from the four musicians and the throngs of fans, which is intensified by the visceral collision of so many sounds.
—Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 27 Apr. 2026
With Sunday’s first pitch, DiGesu joined fellow Mets-loving musicians like the Strokes’ Julian Casablancas and John Mayer in tossing the ceremonial pitch.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2026
All four musicians will still be busy with other musical pursuits.
—Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Thousands of fans attended the tribute, where musicians like Aloe Blacc and Kenny Lattimore took the stage.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
The fallout exposes tensions within punk between supporting progressive values and festival-dependent musicians supporting their livelihoods.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Prince, one of the world’s most enigmatic musicians, was famously private.
—Toni Odejimi, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for musicians
Noun
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The sessions were a catalyst from which a collection of cosmically aligned instrumentalists that included Kamasi Washington, Terrace Martin, and Thundercat released a rush of envelope-pushing jazz fusion music that both inspired and took inspiration from the Black Lives Matter movement.—
Dean Van Nguyen,
Pitchfork,
22 Apr. 2026
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Community members of all ages are invited to participate as soloists, duets, small groups or instrumentalists.—
Ramona Sentinel,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Tilson Thomas championed classical masters but also many contemporary American composers and transformed the orchestra’s annual Beethoven festival into an American Mavericks Festival featuring works of his mentors Bernstein and Copland.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Some composers embraced piano rolls; some even wrote music specifically for them.—
Steven Melendez,
Scientific American,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Other artists who were honored included Dolly Parton, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, John Boylan, Leland Sklar, Nicky Hopkins (posthumously) and Flow State collaborators Huff and McDonald.—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
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The second floor landing by Blue Brick Design Designer Lara Hovanessian has transformed the foyer walls of both the first and second floors into a striking display for local artists Blakeney, Susanna Speirs Ali and Lareina Holsopple.—
Lisa Boone,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Musicians.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/musicians. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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