ballads

noun

plural of ballad
as in songs
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment a haunting ballad about lost love and loneliness

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 ballads Up until that point, a lot of people thought that my greatest strength was to sing heartbreak ballads. — Jeffrey Masters, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026 There were hair-metal bands that only had power ballads — Firehouse or some band with 17th century French aristocrat hair. — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 The two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee — who’s been honored for his work as a solo artist and a member of Faces — is known for belting out ballads and rock numbers through an unmistake gravelly voice. — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026 Their videos work as a modern take on the narcocorridos – ballads about the trafficking underworld that drug kingpins used to praise themselves and communicate with each other, said security expert Alexei Chévez. — Rey Rodríguez, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026 Much of Tulu literature and folklore has been preserved through oral tradition, especially epic ballads called paddanas. — Andrew Pereira, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Aug. 2026 Those digital Mellotrons balanced against Wilson’s dry 2000s alt-rock production cast Åkerfeldt’s ballads into a searching, uncanny drift at the outskirts of the metal landscape. — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 19 July 2026 His theory—that the poems must have been patched together much later from various ballads—was not universally accepted. — Literary Hub, 17 July 2026 Pop crossovers, polished ballads and the young seeds of bro-country were what populated the radio, but Church loved harder rock influences, outlaw heroes, and even the Muscle Shoals soul. — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballads
  1. songs
  2. hymns
  3. lyrics
  4. anthems
  5. vocals
Noun
  • The production features songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, a book by Tim Federle and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Their friendship was one of many laughs, songs and adventures.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of songs
Noun
  • Faithful gather to sing hymns and sip Bloody Marys, and a revolving cast of chaplains, including one who once served at the University of Texas chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, lead services.
    — Pam LeBlanc, Southern Living, 20 July 2026
  • One of six children, Tyler grew up idolizing Tina Turner and Janis Joplin and singing hymns in the Anglican church her parents attended.
    — Adela Suliman, NBC news, 9 July 2026
Definition of hymns
Noun
  • Guo Degang was accused of violating public morals for improvising the lyrics to a communist party song.
    — Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Its body-moving riff and playfully randy lyrics have made the track a regular on FM rock playlists for half a century.
    — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of lyrics
Noun
  • His songs spanned from party anthems to deep social commentary.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Meshell Ndegeocello is taking one of the Eighties’ frostiest break-up pop anthems somewhere much warmer.
    — Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of anthems
Noun
  • In the clip, Norwood signals the engineer before launching into a performance of the theme, which captures the songstress delivering impassioned vocals over a pulsating instrumental.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The rest of the track is otherwise rendered well, with Callahan’s vocals sounding full and rich in texture.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of vocals

Browse Nearby Words

ballad
ballads
ballast
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Cite this Entry

“Ballads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballads. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ballads

Nglish: Translation of ballads for Spanish Speakers

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