1
as in ballads
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment
she sang a little-known song for the talent show
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in poems
a composition using rhythm and often rhyme to create a lyrical effect
the songs of Shakespeare
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
4
as in poetries
writing that uses rhythm, vivid language, and often rhyme to provoke an emotional response
a hero honored in song and story
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of songs
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
There are flashes of overwhelming tenderness and wind-stopping moments, and the songs are generally rich and full of character, populated by her usual cast of gay witches, Southern Baptist girls, medicine women, saints, and pre-Christian gods.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2026
The popular work, set to the songs of Edith Piaf, has not been on the company’s lineup since 2015.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
Some great songs in that album, first of all.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 2026
Amid the protest, which included chants, songs, and a skit where Duke Energy was represented by someone dressed as the devil, Corinne Mack, president of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP questioned whether Duke leaders were truly hearing residents’ concerns.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Her songs in the film — written by Charli xcx, Jack Antonoff, and FKA twigs, who also co-stars — also have real pop bona fides.
—Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Ditto the sophisticated modulations and subtle rhythmic shifts that underpin Puth’s best songs.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
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
There are flashes of overwhelming tenderness and wind-stopping moments, and the songs are generally rich and full of character, populated by her usual cast of gay witches, Southern Baptist girls, medicine women, saints, and pre-Christian gods.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2026
The popular work, set to the songs of Edith Piaf, has not been on the company’s lineup since 2015.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
Some great songs in that album, first of all.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 2026
Amid the protest, which included chants, songs, and a skit where Duke Energy was represented by someone dressed as the devil, Corinne Mack, president of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP questioned whether Duke leaders were truly hearing residents’ concerns.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Her songs in the film — written by Charli xcx, Jack Antonoff, and FKA twigs, who also co-stars — also have real pop bona fides.
—Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Ditto the sophisticated modulations and subtle rhythmic shifts that underpin Puth’s best songs.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for songs
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
-
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
-
Like Whitman’s, many of Frost’s poems are songs of occupations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
First there was Lil Baby and Gunna, turning his melodies into a radio rap format by ditching the idiosyncrasies.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Its melodies are familiar because they’ve been used as themes or background music in movies, television series, and commercials.—
Brian Duignan,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
Noun
-
There is a new way to get creative in Baltimore, all while singing your favorite tunes.—
Janay Reece,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
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
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Songs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/songs. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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