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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lyric
Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Jan. 2025
Fans have tried to decipher meaning from Justin and Selena’s random Instagram posts, crafting narratives about the two pining after each other, often based on little more than song lyrics and pictures.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
That is such a gorgeous Jerry Herman lyric, so beautiful and so simple.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lyric 
Noun
The original drafts of the song’s lyrics, which offer a rare glimpse into Dylan’s creative process, have been sold for $508,000 at a recent auction.
—Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Jan. 2025
Fans have tried to decipher meaning from Justin and Selena’s random Instagram posts, crafting narratives about the two pining after each other, often based on little more than song lyrics and pictures.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Dance sections lacked charm; lyric passages were spiritless; the klezmer episodes in the third movement were strictly goyish.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
That is such a gorgeous Jerry Herman lyric, so beautiful and so simple.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lyric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lyric
Noun
-
Purple: Commander-In-Chief names if they were put into a rap or poem.—
Raul A. Reyes,
Newsweek,
23 Jan. 2025
-
The strategy is less effective for improving outputs such as poems or translations, in which ranking is subjective.—
Lauren Leffer,
Scientific American,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
In Blue Velvet, Dorothy Valence’s (Isabella Rossellini) rendition of the title ballad is a conduit for her internal life.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
17 Jan. 2025
-
In the music video, released Monday, frontwoman Michelle Zauner sings the delicate ballad, while bassist Jungle twirls in a gleaming seashell, emulating a siren.—
Kalia Richardson,
Rolling Stone,
14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The slow-rolling single with skittering drum machine beats mashed against both mens’ drawling vocals is of a piece with Jelly’s frequent lyrical focus on mental health and his battles with substance use.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Another music star who has been rumored to possibly appear during Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show is Lil Wayne, as the two lyrical titans recently cleared the air regarding the drama surrounding Kendrick being selected over Weezy.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The investigative duo soon realizes their killer commits his crimes to a soundtrack, leaving poetic calling cards on the corpses.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
20 Jan. 2025
-
An innocent interpretation is that the person isn’t the type that writes poems and has simply gone to AI for help in getting a poetic piece composed.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
19 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The song, a home demo Lennon recorded in 1978, was well known to Beatles die-hards.—
August Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
-
This album, there’s of course heartbreak in it, but there’s songs for lovers, too.—
Carly Thomas,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
In a Christian context, hymns are written to honor God.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
20 Jan. 2025
-
Anyone interested in performing hymns with Frost and the Village Community Chorale should contact the church music ministries coordinator, Twyla Arant, at twylaa@villagechurch.org.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
In addition, for this film, drinking heart blood had physical, poetical appeal.—
Matt Zoller Seitz,
Vulture,
14 Jan. 2025
-
For armchair travelers and avid trip planners alike, Wine & Travel Italy evokes the spirit of Bel Paese (Beautiful Country), the popular poetical appellative for Italy.—
Laura Manske,
Forbes,
30 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
In Mistletoe & Wine Sadie (Kirk) and Jasper (McGregor) star as two down on their luck musicians who must rise above their differences to create the magic that’ll impress musical impresario Spencer (Isaacs) and his colleague Rachel (Burr) and keep their show on the road.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
21 Jan. 2025
-
The American musical before 1927 had been light stuff—part operetta, part revue—a merry playground for sparklers like George M. Cohan and Cole Porter.—
Helen Shaw,
The New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near lyric
Cite this Entry
“Lyric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lyric. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share