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
  • Her father had been dead for five years when, at 13, Plath wrote a poem about the death of another adult in her life, her beloved teacher, Miss Cox.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Livia’s sister-in-law invokes the poem when Livia learns, to her surprise, that her manipulative, abusive mother had been a frustrated musician.
    — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of poem
Noun
  • But beyond the lyrics, Langley has prioritized her mental health even as her immense success was unfolding before her.
    — Rob LeDonne, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Eleazar forgoes Thom Yorke-style belting, draws out the mournful quaver in the lyrics, and subtly reshapes the anthem in Misty’s image, her commitment to doing things her way.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 10 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sonnet

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sonnet

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