as in poets
a person who writes lyrics and especially the words of a song
The widely acclaimed lyricist has penned many of pop music's most famous songs.
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Recent Examples of lyricists
Witty, imaginative, and brushed with a whisper of melancholy, Blue Moon is a perceptive portrait of one of the 20th century’s finest lyricists.
—
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 3 Dec. 2025
The Songwriters Hall of Fame, founded in 1969, honors lyricists and composers whose work represents a lasting influence on the music industry.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
No two lyricists write lyrics the same way, just as no two novelists write novels the same way.
—Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
So that would be the difference to me, of working with them, as far as them as lyricists.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 9 Aug. 2025
With a team based across New York, London, Los Angeles and Austin, ILP works closely with book authors, playwrights, lyricists and composers, along with their representatives, heirs and estate managers to protect legacies and bring classic works to new international audiences.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 3 Dec. 2025
The Songwriters Hall of Fame, founded in 1969, honors lyricists and composers whose work represents a lasting influence on the music industry.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
No two lyricists write lyrics the same way, just as no two novelists write novels the same way.
—Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
So that would be the difference to me, of working with them, as far as them as lyricists.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 9 Aug. 2025
With a team based across New York, London, Los Angeles and Austin, ILP works closely with book authors, playwrights, lyricists and composers, along with their representatives, heirs and estate managers to protect legacies and bring classic works to new international audiences.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lyricists
Noun
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Foreigners have been streaming into Switzerland for centuries—poets, painters, alpinists—and the country long ago adapted to their presence.—
Alice Gregory,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
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Clinical accuracy is not something with which poets have traditionally tended to preoccupy themselves, but Tennyson’s account of mental extremity impressed the experts.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The music of American and Latin American composers has been at the core of the conductor’s repertoire, not just with the Grant Park Music Festival but at other posts in Sarasota, Florida, and in Nashville.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
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Three actors wearing oversized cartoonish heads portrayed Italian composers Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi and Gioachino Rossini tagged along from much of the first half of the production.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Now entering its 20th year, ASCAP Experience is designed to unite aspiring songwriters, composers and producers with hitmakers and industry leaders, offering practical guidance, creative inspiration, and essential tools for navigating the future of music.—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
10 Feb. 2026
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In those days, no one really knew the names of songwriters for pop hits, Dolenz says.—
Peter Larsen,
Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lyricists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lyricists. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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