as in composer
a person who writes musical compositions
a melodist whose music is not likely to be very accessible to the casual listener
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Recent Examples of melodist
The album puts a further exclamation point on Schwartz’s rare brilliance as both melodist and lyricist, a la Sondheim.
—
Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Nov. 2024
In Radiance Rising, inspired by anime openings, Ben Spivey imagines the violins as melodists, the viola as an electric guitar, the cello as percussion, progressing to a dancelike ending.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 24 Apr. 2023
His poetry has been continuously set to music by composers, from his contemporaries to still-living melodists, including Carrie Jacobs-Bond, John Alden Carpenter, Harry Thacker Burleigh, William Bolcom and Zenobia Powell Perry.
—Minnita Daniel-Cox, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Mar. 2023
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s six-concert winter festival, the Magic of Schubert, considers the legacy of a melodist both gracious and sublime, all culminating in the unrushed pleasures of Schubert’s hour-long Octet in F Major (Jan. 22-Feb. 10).
—Oussama Zahr, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2022
Harrison liked to say music is a song and a dance, and in the last decades of the 20th century no one could touch him as a melodist.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2020
As a tunesmith, the nonpareil melodist Bacharach found fame in every medium.
—Chris Morris, Variety, 9 Feb. 2023
But the Romanian conductor happens to be music director of the Cabrillo Festival, which was founded by Lou Harrison, California’s great melodist and eclectic.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2022
Where Lang Lang is a melodist, Wang is marvel of rhythm.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2022
Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Nov. 2024
In Radiance Rising, inspired by anime openings, Ben Spivey imagines the violins as melodists, the viola as an electric guitar, the cello as percussion, progressing to a dancelike ending.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 24 Apr. 2023
His poetry has been continuously set to music by composers, from his contemporaries to still-living melodists, including Carrie Jacobs-Bond, John Alden Carpenter, Harry Thacker Burleigh, William Bolcom and Zenobia Powell Perry.
—Minnita Daniel-Cox, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Mar. 2023
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s six-concert winter festival, the Magic of Schubert, considers the legacy of a melodist both gracious and sublime, all culminating in the unrushed pleasures of Schubert’s hour-long Octet in F Major (Jan. 22-Feb. 10).
—Oussama Zahr, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2022
Harrison liked to say music is a song and a dance, and in the last decades of the 20th century no one could touch him as a melodist.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2020
As a tunesmith, the nonpareil melodist Bacharach found fame in every medium.
—Chris Morris, Variety, 9 Feb. 2023
But the Romanian conductor happens to be music director of the Cabrillo Festival, which was founded by Lou Harrison, California’s great melodist and eclectic.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2022
Where Lang Lang is a melodist, Wang is marvel of rhythm.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melodist
Noun
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Cinematographer Roger Deakins gave the feature a stunning cinematic style that felt almost live-action, and composer John Powell added a sweeping score to the narrative.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
14 June 2025
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The music cue from composer John Morris is a deliberate homage to Maurice Jarre's score from the grandaddy of all dune-traversing movies, Sir David Lean's 1962 Oscar winner for Best Picture, Lawrence of Arabia.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
14 June 2025
Noun
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Morgan Wallen’s First Wallen is now the first musician in history to chart 30 or more songs on the Hot 100 in three separate weeks.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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The centerpiece is a gargantuan grill where Franco barbecues 20-pound steaks for barefoot guests; around him, there is dancing, mingling, and live music, usually a mix of musicians from the area and Franco’s high school friends.—
Alessandra Schade,
Vogue,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Melodist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melodist. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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