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
Bringing together the best of his indie-rock stylings off 2023’s Blanket with the fiery hip-hop lyricism of 2019’s Arizona Baby, Blush feels like the culmination of a lifetime’s work on Abstract’s part.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 27 June 2025
His light touch, fluidity and elegant lyricism at times suggest Pat Metheny, but as a point of reference, not a final destination, and his supple playing is a consistent delight.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2025
Over the past two decades, Dylan’s visual output has expanded through exhibitions in the U.S. and Europe, with critics often noting how his paintings and drawings echo the lyricism and layered symbolism of his songwriting.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 25 June 2025
Her music mines heartbreak and offers a raw and vulnerable lyricism to fans hungry to know her outside her most famed characters.
—Amani Bayo, USA Today, 25 June 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.
Stephen Daw, Billboard, 27 June 2025
His light touch, fluidity and elegant lyricism at times suggest Pat Metheny, but as a point of reference, not a final destination, and his supple playing is a consistent delight.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2025
Over the past two decades, Dylan’s visual output has expanded through exhibitions in the U.S. and Europe, with critics often noting how his paintings and drawings echo the lyricism and layered symbolism of his songwriting.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 25 June 2025
Her music mines heartbreak and offers a raw and vulnerable lyricism to fans hungry to know her outside her most famed characters.
—Amani Bayo, USA Today, 25 June 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 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share