lyricism
noun
lyr·i·cism
ˈlir-ə-ˌsi-zəm 
1
: the quality or state of being lyric : songfulness
The important part of his anthology 100 Modern Poems is the foreign verse, showing the French influence on our symbolism, the Celtic influence (Yeats, Dylan Thomas) on our lyricism.—
Peter Viereck
Peter Viereck2
a
: an intense personal quality expressive of feeling or emotion in an art (such as poetry or music)
… a muse that brought out the lyricism in innumerable writers.—Erich Segal
Erich Segal
b
: exuberance
[Thomas] Wolfe is the sort of author who inspires lyricism or invective, not judicious interpretation—Time
Time3
: the words of a song : lyrics
witty lyricism
Despite her spitfire raps and devil-may-care persona, Lee's lyricism is surprisingly sensitive, proving the rapper to be wise beyond her years.—Gladys Yeo
Gladys YeoRenaissance, Beyoncé's seventh album, was a seductive club banger with heady lyricism and deep tributes to the queer community.—CT Jones
CT JonesExamples of lyricism in a Sentence
the lyricism of his paintings
Recent Examples on the Web
Many point to Dylan’s songwriting and lyricism when explaining his appeal.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2025
Ahead of Pink Elephant, the Montreal collective known for its insistent politics and uplifting lyricism was scarce and guarded in its direct communications.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 13 May 2025
The fusion of Nas’ poetic lyricism with a full symphonic accompaniment has drawn praise from both audiences and collaborators.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Sufi stories rely on metaphor, rhythm, repetition, and lyricism, to penetrate not just the cerebral intellect but the intellect of the heart.
—Sonya Rehman, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
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Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2025
Ahead of Pink Elephant, the Montreal collective known for its insistent politics and uplifting lyricism was scarce and guarded in its direct communications.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 13 May 2025
The fusion of Nas’ poetic lyricism with a full symphonic accompaniment has drawn praise from both audiences and collaborators.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Sufi stories rely on metaphor, rhythm, repetition, and lyricism, to penetrate not just the cerebral intellect but the intellect of the heart.
—Sonya Rehman, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lyricism
Cite this Entry
“Lyricism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lyricism. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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