as in poetry
verse that does not rhyme and does not have a regular rhythm
The author's free verse has a unique rhythmic intensity.
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Recent Examples of free verse
Here are some of Robert Frost’s insights into how poetry works its magic:
Writing free verse is like playing tennis without a net.
—
Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024
Rhyming poems, like Reed’s, have fallen out of style this century in favor of free verse.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2024
The book, first published in 1927, is organized according to the calendar, with a passage of free verse that evokes the qualities and pleasures of each month, a small monochrome drawing nearby, and, on the facing page, a full-color illustration of the sort to draw fascinated attention.
—Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 16 Nov. 2023
Taking its title from a Toni Morrison quote, Water Made Us employs free verse, voice memos from family and friends, and sterling arrangements crafted with L.A. producer McClenney to examine her past relationships.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 25 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for free verse
Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024
Rhyming poems, like Reed’s, have fallen out of style this century in favor of free verse.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2024
The book, first published in 1927, is organized according to the calendar, with a passage of free verse that evokes the qualities and pleasures of each month, a small monochrome drawing nearby, and, on the facing page, a full-color illustration of the sort to draw fascinated attention.
—Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 16 Nov. 2023
Taking its title from a Toni Morrison quote, Water Made Us employs free verse, voice memos from family and friends, and sterling arrangements crafted with L.A. producer McClenney to examine her past relationships.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 25 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for free verse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for free verse
Noun
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In their bloody poetry, the human animal expands, often to terrifying capacity.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
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Her team is gathering writing from political prisoners, media criticism from inside mainstream newsrooms, stories of Hollywood censorship, profiles of the former head of Addameer and of a Palestinian rapper, poetry, and lots more.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Instead of tucking her poem away in a notebook, Santos decided to publish it in 2021.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
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The writer and performer composes poems, short stories and plays that highlight joys and contend with struggles.—
Domenica Bongiovanni,
IndyStar,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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As the crowd screamed every lyric back to them, Raya-García leaned down from the stage to sign autographs for fans losing their minds in the front row.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
14 Mar. 2026
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The lyrics seem to be very much from your imagination.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The piece has the pattern of blank verse.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
27 Oct. 2025
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But Kantor wrote it in blank verse — little help for the script.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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There was clear rhyme and reason to the availability.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
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His couplets—stitched together by a rhyme—typically saunter in contrary directions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Spontaneity and naturalism characterize much of the album, even on songs by artists not necessarily known for those qualities.—
Hannah Jocelyn,
Pitchfork,
18 Mar. 2026
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South Korean figure skater Lee Haein even performed an exhibition program at the Winter Olympics to a mashup of songs from the film’s soundtrack.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Free verse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free%20verse. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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