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
The 85-year-old artist pushed the folk genre to unseen limits through his lyricism over his 69-year career.
—
Joseph Hernandez,
Kansas City Star,
2 July 2026
Driven heavily by lyricism, especially that of the melancholic Mexican singer Ed Maverick, and his ability to forge a new path in the Mexican indie folk scene, Selines dreamt of becoming a professional singer at 15.
—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
Albert’s prose sometimes strains for lyricism, but the mysteries embedded in the novel—creative, familial, and supernatural—exert a powerful draw.
—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Sour and sophomore Guts — incredible hooks, intricate production, cutting lyricism — stepped up to the next level.
—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lyricism
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Joseph Hernandez,
Kansas City Star,
2 July 2026
Driven heavily by lyricism, especially that of the melancholic Mexican singer Ed Maverick, and his ability to forge a new path in the Mexican indie folk scene, Selines dreamt of becoming a professional singer at 15.
—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
Albert’s prose sometimes strains for lyricism, but the mysteries embedded in the novel—creative, familial, and supernatural—exert a powerful draw.
—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Sour and sophomore Guts — incredible hooks, intricate production, cutting lyricism — stepped up to the next level.
—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lyricism
Cite this Entry
“Lyricism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lyricism. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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