as in hymns
a religious song
sang a spiritual at the funeral
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of spirituals
Blues developed after the Civil War (1861–65) and was influenced by 19th-century work songs and field hollers, minstrel show music, ragtime, and church music such as spirituals and hymns, as well as the folk and popular music of white Southerners.
—
René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026
This vibrant, free afternoon concert will feature a rich selection of beloved American choral favorites, including rousing gospel selections, powerful spirituals, and timeless classics that resonate across generations, a news release stated.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
The music is eclectic and includes sounds associated with Islam as well as bluegrass, hymns and spirituals.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
At Merkin Hall, Chanticleer rings in the semiquincentennial with a new work by Trevor Weston, which spotlights the legacy of African American spirituals.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
As iconic church songs that have crossed over into secular spirituals, they were written to be memorable and singable, crowd-tested for at least a couple of generations.
—David W. Stowe, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026
With elements of jazz, gospel and spirituals incorporated into the music, the song was a British homage to Black American music traditions.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2026
America’s long struggle against racial segregation was accompanied by a righteous soundtrack of spirituals and gospel and soul music, anthems that channeled sanctified fervor into the fight for equality.
—Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
From slave spirituals to civil rights-era protest songs to the YG and Kendrick Lamar songs that soundtracked the last decade of Black Lives Matter protests, musicians across genres tend to react to our country’s horrors with music.
—Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2026
René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026
This vibrant, free afternoon concert will feature a rich selection of beloved American choral favorites, including rousing gospel selections, powerful spirituals, and timeless classics that resonate across generations, a news release stated.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
The music is eclectic and includes sounds associated with Islam as well as bluegrass, hymns and spirituals.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
At Merkin Hall, Chanticleer rings in the semiquincentennial with a new work by Trevor Weston, which spotlights the legacy of African American spirituals.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
As iconic church songs that have crossed over into secular spirituals, they were written to be memorable and singable, crowd-tested for at least a couple of generations.
—David W. Stowe, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026
With elements of jazz, gospel and spirituals incorporated into the music, the song was a British homage to Black American music traditions.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2026
America’s long struggle against racial segregation was accompanied by a righteous soundtrack of spirituals and gospel and soul music, anthems that channeled sanctified fervor into the fight for equality.
—Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
From slave spirituals to civil rights-era protest songs to the YG and Kendrick Lamar songs that soundtracked the last decade of Black Lives Matter protests, musicians across genres tend to react to our country’s horrors with music.
—Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spirituals
Noun
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The service of hymns and prayer will be followed by a memorial roll call of members of the armed services who died in active duty.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 May 2026
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The result, a collaboration with Joseph Shirley — whose composer credits include The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and Creed III — is a beautiful, winding soundtrack that weaves between whistling, clapping Americana, gospel-like hymns and spiritual delta blues.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
19 May 2026
Noun
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She is scheduled to perform new songs from her 12th studio album and some of her classic anthems.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 May 2026
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In that time, the band took a break from making radio-ready anthems and split from their major label.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
20 May 2026
Noun
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The epitome of that tradition is Choral Evensong, an evening service of hymns, psalms and prayers laid out by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, the first Protestant archbishop of the Church of England, in 1549.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
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Scholars have debated the reason for the discrepancy; some scholars note that the Psalms are poetic and have their own internal logic, and others contend that the textual tradition’s list of plagues was initially fluid.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spirituals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spirituals. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
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