sonnet

noun

Definition of sonnetnext
as in poem
a composition made up of 14 lines that rhyme in a fixed pattern He wrote gushy sonnets to his girlfriend when he was away at camp.

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of sonnet My expertise, for example, is in the African American sonnet tradition. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 12 May 2026 After all, no poet talks seriously about doing statistical regression on sonnets to find the optimal ones. — Konstantin Kakaes, Quanta Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026 Recently reissued by original label Rough Trade Records, Songs to Remember epitomizes the group’s attempt to reconcile an art-school background, 1977-era punk ethics, and an obsession with chart pop into a musical statement as stately and cohesive as a book of sonnets. — Alfred Soto, Pitchfork, 11 Apr. 2026 In the Village Voice, where the Consumer Guide became one of the fabled alt-weekly’s go-to features from the ’70s through the ’90s, Christgau wrote like a possessed fan who breathed insight, making every capsule sound like a psychedelic sonnet. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 29 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sonnet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sonnet
  1. poem
  2. lyric
Noun
  • In its simplest definition, a ballad is a poem or song that tells a story.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Oct. 2026
  • One of us would be chosen to recite the poem onstage—a kitsch performance, no doubt, so that an auditorium of adults would be moved to tears.
    — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of poem
Noun
  • Combining established research on what makes babies happy with the results of infant focus groups, the catchy melody, walking bassline and playful lyrics are almost hypnotic, stopping nascent meltdowns in their tracks.
    — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Roan also adds an new verse to the song, slightly changing the lyrics to reference a mediocre female suitor alongside Rodrigo’s original lines.
    — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of lyric

Browse Nearby Words

songwriters
sonnet
sonneteer
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Cite this Entry

“Sonnet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sonnet. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sonnet

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