lyrical

adjective

ˈlir-i-kəl How to pronounce lyrical (audio)
Definition of lyricalnext
1
as in melodic
having a pleasantly flowing quality suggestive of music the lyrical cadences of voice-over narration give the film a very poignant quality

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in poetic
having qualities suggestive of poetry the photographer achieves a very lyrical effect with her intentionally blurred images of flowers growing in the wild

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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 lyrical Hers is a voice that ought to have a lifetime’s staying power, bolstered by a lyrical and musical sensibility that provide everything her instrument needs to deliver a happy succession of knockout blows. — Chris Willman, Variety, 3 July 2026 The windswept tumult is filmed in lyrical slow motion, with high-contrast lighting, and the imagery meshes with Angèle’s text to evoke the inner lives of Maxine and Ada, conjuring subjectivity itself. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 June 2026 The Brooklyn neighborhood where, if Swiftie lyrical interpretations are to be trusted, Swift left a now-infamous scarf at the home of one Maggie Gyllenhaal around 2010. — Lily Boyce, New York Times, 2 July 2026 While obviously, the lyrical sentiment contains romantic implications, the veritable love affair is really between McCartney and Lennon, their friendship and creative partnership an enviable match. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lyrical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lyrical
  1. melodic
  2. poetic
  3. lyric
  4. poetical
Adjective
  • Perhaps the most striking thing about this savage beatdown is its sweetly melodic backing track.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
  • Unlike the brighter, more melodic style often associated with Austria and the Tyrol region, Swiss yodeling is slower and more melancholic — an emotionally nuanced tradition rooted in distinct regional dialects.
    — Jez Fielder, Fortune, 30 June 2026
Definition of melodic
Adjective
  • Last week, some of the brightest minds of my generation left us angry elegies and poetic travelogues.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
  • Katayama added several poetic but complex notes to the Human Vapor’s final form.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026
Definition of poetic
Adjective
  • The song was paired with a lyric video that reuses two-decade-old footage shot by collaborator Cliff Watts, who also photographed Beyoncé’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover.
    — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 4 July 2026
  • According to a release from Parkwood Entertainment, the song arrives along with a lyric video directed by Cliff Watts that repurposes old footage.
    — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 4 July 2026
Definition of lyric
Adjective
  • There are ones who are more ideological, others more poetical.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026
Definition of poetical

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lyric
lyrical
lyricist
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Cite this Entry

“Lyrical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lyrical. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lyrical

Nglish: Translation of lyrical for Spanish Speakers

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