poet

noun

ˈpō-ət How to pronounce poet (audio)
Definition of poetnext
as in minstrel
a person who writes poetry Emily Dickinson is famous as the poet who rarely left the house but often journeyed to the depths of the human heart

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 poet Among those gathered were Aaron Douglas, Romare Bearden, Gerri Major, Arna Bontemps, Richard Bruce Nugent, James Van Der Zee, and Ida Mae Cullen, widow of poet Countee Cullen. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026 The letter says that, on the AfD’s website, the party mentions the poet Heinrich Heine and the artist Joseph Beuys, two figures central to Düsseldorf’s history. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2026 The Proffers were in Brodsky’s room again, in 1972, only a few months after founding Ardis, when the Soviet government called the poet and, in preparation for President Nixon’s visit, kicked him out of the country. — Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026 Alex’s friends were poets—Frank O’Hara, John Ashbery, James Schuyler, and the poet-dance critic Edwin Denby, who introduced Alex to choreographer Paul Taylor. — Dodie Kazanjian, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for poet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poet
  1. minstrel
  2. muse
  3. bard
Noun
  • Last month, retailer Target pulled a children’s Halloween costume from its shelves after widespread social media backlash, apologizing for selling a garment that critics said evoked racist minstrel caricatures.
    — Dave Collins, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
  • In August, discount retailer Target stopped selling a children's Halloween costume that some critics said evoked racist minstrel caricatures, The Associated Press reported.
    — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of minstrel
Noun
  • The music of French actress and singer Jeanne Moreau also served as something of a muse for Zankov.
    — Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Fine knows her way around the muse well enough to follow, if not blindly, at least a little brainlessly.
    — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of muse
Noun
  • Variations in form and narrative However, many poets, bards, and troubadours experimented with form to create ballads featuring more than four lines in a stanza and different rhyme schemes or meters.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Oct. 2026
  • In that sense, Deutsch, 51, wants to be the bard of Chicago, in part by leading by example.
    — Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of bard

Browse Nearby Words

poesy
poet
poetaster
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Cite this Entry

“Poet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poet. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about poet

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