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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Recent Examples of ballads
The album’s artwork depicts a cartoon version of the messy-haired singer with an angel and devil on each of his shoulders — demonstrating its division of impassioned feel-good love songs and down-tempo ballads of loss and defeat.
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Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
But there was other live music on board, from rock ballads in the Explorers’ Lounge to upbeat soul and funk tunes, which had everyone dancing in the Torshavn Bar.
—Helen Iatrou, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2024
In a similar vein, Malloy’s musical score is almost anonymously eclectic — wistful ballads, stomping pop, a smattering of EDM — but threaded through with enough strains of Russian folk and klezmer to suggest a sense of place.
—Houman Barekat, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2024
Hip hop, classic rock, ballads.
—Meghan Mahar, Billboard, 19 Dec. 2024
Singing over gruff hip-hop beats and ethereal minimalist ballads, the Argentine singer weaves a provocative tale of self-discovery with diaristic lyrics that excavate self-acceptance, intense romance and emotional maturity.
—Pamela Avila, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
Because my album was full of ballads.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2024
So the shooter was the subject of murder ballads and general sympathy, even a look-alike contest.
—Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge, 13 Dec. 2024
These are ballads about cheating and addiction, and reflections on wistful memories and true love.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024
Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
But there was other live music on board, from rock ballads in the Explorers’ Lounge to upbeat soul and funk tunes, which had everyone dancing in the Torshavn Bar.
—Helen Iatrou, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2024
In a similar vein, Malloy’s musical score is almost anonymously eclectic — wistful ballads, stomping pop, a smattering of EDM — but threaded through with enough strains of Russian folk and klezmer to suggest a sense of place.
—Houman Barekat, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2024
Hip hop, classic rock, ballads.
—Meghan Mahar, Billboard, 19 Dec. 2024
Singing over gruff hip-hop beats and ethereal minimalist ballads, the Argentine singer weaves a provocative tale of self-discovery with diaristic lyrics that excavate self-acceptance, intense romance and emotional maturity.
—Pamela Avila, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
Because my album was full of ballads.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2024
So the shooter was the subject of murder ballads and general sympathy, even a look-alike contest.
—Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge, 13 Dec. 2024
These are ballads about cheating and addiction, and reflections on wistful memories and true love.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballads
Noun
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Then there are also so many quintessential pop hits and Top 40 songs that blow it through the roof.Liza Lentini, SPIN, 27 Dec. 2024
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While 143—now titled 1432—and the several singles that were spun off of the project are nowhere to be found on the charts in the United Kingdom at the moment, Perry does appear on multiple rankings in the country that focus only on popular songs.Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Viewers met Samberg as Clementine, who's playing keyboard and crooning his heart out in his apartment to ridiculous lyrics that seem to be about a girl who's — an actual drink?Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 24 Dec. 2024
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Brewer & Shipley found success in the late 1960s and early 1970s for their socially conscious lyrics and commentary on the Vietnam War.Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024
Noun
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So in an era when dozens of new Christmas albums and songs flood the zone in search of classic standing, what explains the strength of Carey and Lee’s anthems?Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 20 Dec. 2024
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Dylan also rejected being a political figure — even though his songs became political anthems.Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In 1977, Vandross introduced Anderson to Rodgers and his writing partner Bernard Edwards, who were forming the then-new group, Chic, with Tony Thompson on drums and Norma Jean Wright on lead vocals.DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 23 Dec. 2024
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Chic dissolved shortly after, but Anderson went on to sing backing vocals on many of the songs Rodgers wrote and produced, including ones by Diana Ross, Johnny Mathis, Bryan Adams, and Mick Jagger.Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 23 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near ballads
Cite this Entry
“Ballads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballads. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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