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
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of first studio effort, this performance marks a cultural milestone that blends the raw lyricism of Nas with the grandeur of classical instrumentation—offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience for fans of both genres.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 8 Apr. 2025
Big Sean) stands out, with Smith matching Sean's witty lyricism.
—Delano Massey, Axios, 28 Mar. 2025
Even the quieter domestic dramas vying less for box-office glory and more for Academy Awards acclaim feature music lush with classical detail, like Carter Burwell’s melancholy strings in Carol, giving twinkly lyricism to the emotional violence roiling beneath the characters’ skins.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
Rap groups such as Stetsasonic, Gang Starr, De La Soul, and A Tribe Called Quest merged introspective lyricism with the boundless sonic textures of legends like Davis, Hancock, and Coltrane.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lyricism
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Okla Jones, Essence, 8 Apr. 2025
Big Sean) stands out, with Smith matching Sean's witty lyricism.
—Delano Massey, Axios, 28 Mar. 2025
Even the quieter domestic dramas vying less for box-office glory and more for Academy Awards acclaim feature music lush with classical detail, like Carter Burwell’s melancholy strings in Carol, giving twinkly lyricism to the emotional violence roiling beneath the characters’ skins.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
Rap groups such as Stetsasonic, Gang Starr, De La Soul, and A Tribe Called Quest merged introspective lyricism with the boundless sonic textures of legends like Davis, Hancock, and Coltrane.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lyricism
Cite this Entry
“Lyricism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lyricism. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share