lyricism

noun

lyr·​i·​cism ˈlir-ə-ˌsi-zəm 

1

: the quality or state of being lyric : songfulness

The important part of his anthology 100 Modern Poems is the foreign verse, showing the French influence on our symbolism, the Celtic influence (Yeats, Dylan Thomas) on our lyricism.

—Peter Viereck

2

a

: an intense personal quality expressive of feeling or emotion in an art (such as poetry or music)

… a muse that brought out the lyricism in innumerable writers.

—Erich Segal

b

: exuberance

[Thomas] Wolfe is the sort of author who inspires lyricism or invective, not judicious interpretation

—Time

3

: the words of a song : lyrics

witty lyricism

Despite her spitfire raps and devil-may-care persona, Lee's lyricism is surprisingly sensitive, proving the rapper to be wise beyond her years.

—Gladys Yeo

Renaissance, Beyoncé's seventh album, was a seductive club banger with heady lyricism and deep tributes to the queer community.

—CT Jones

Examples of lyricism in a Sentence

the lyricism of his paintings

Recent Examples on the Web

The second movement was deliberately paced yet coiled with restrained energy; the lyricism felt expansive without losing forward momentum. —Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025

There’s the reverence for Dylan’s lyricism for sure. —Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 18 Dec. 2024

In addition, the event spotlighted the dynamic rise of Arabic hip-hop and Arabic indie sounds, where global musical influences merge seamlessly with Arabic lyricism, creating a vibrant fusion of styles that reflects the evolving regional landscape. —Hala Mustafa, Billboard, 23 Dec. 2024

In terms of lyricism, 21 Savage ranks himself as the top wordsmith currently rapping out of Atlanta. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 23 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1760, in the meaning defined at sense 1