elegy

noun

ˈe-lə-jē How to pronounce elegy (audio)
Definition of elegynext
as in lament
a composition expressing one's grief over a loss "O Captain! My Captain!" is Walt Whitman's elegy on the death of President Lincoln

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 elegy The touchstones are plentiful—Harmonia’s cyclical drift, Alice Coltrane’s stargazing elegies, gamelan’s hypnotic shimmer—but the song is strange and unpredictable. — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 13 July 2026 This isn’t just an elegy for a lost boy, but also a way for McElwee to put his own career into the larger context of his life. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 July 2026 Not long after, his elegy was answered, as neotraditional sounds have made a big comeback on country radio, led by artists like Zach Top and Midland. — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 28 June 2026 Ashura processions are usually dramatic affairs, with chanters singing elegies or dirges dedicated to Hussein, while audience members beat their chests and engage in displays of mourning. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for elegy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elegy
  1. lament
  2. dirge
  3. requiem
Noun
  • That ambiguity is echoed in Banks’ score, which takes on the tone of a lament and a celebration, frustration and hope, struggle and liberation, the quest for transcendence in the face of the challenges posed by daunting inequities.
    — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The other main track of Diamanda’s career is her interpretations of old standards, Gospel songs, laments, and folk tunes.
    — Matt Thompson, SPIN, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of lament
Noun
  • The film’s turning point is a tragedy during a fight arranged by Frankie, making its second half more of a dirge than a sports film.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Nobody wants to be subjected to one more triggering, off-key note of an Edwin Díaz dirge.
    — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of dirge
Noun
  • And for me, ‘Amor Eterno,’ coincidentally also patterns how most requiems start, which is requiem eternum, eternal rest, eternal love.
    — Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026
  • The biggest difference is probably how Laurie plays the final requiem.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 4 May 2026
Definition of requiem

Browse Nearby Words

elegizing
elegy
element
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Cite this Entry

“Elegy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elegy. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on elegy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elegy

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