I didn't think Tom's limerick was very funny.
Source: tatoeba (11620797)
Limerick
/ˈlɪm(ə)ɹɪk/
Synonyms for "limerick" (74 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: alba, anacreontic, balada, ballad, ballade.
- Sentence evidence is available for limerick, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "limerick".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "limerick"
Keep "limerick" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "limerick" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "limerick", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "limerick" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
5 entriesMore specific
4 entriescomic poemcounty townfive line verseport city
Collocations
6 entriesAABBA rhymeIrish cityfive line poemhumorous verselimerick formshort comic poem
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
5 entriesTranslations
31 translations across 30 languages.
Arabic
1 entries- لِيمِرِيك name (town)
Armenian
1 entries- Լիմերիկ name (town)
Azerbaijani
1 entries- Limerik name (town)
Belarusian
1 entries- Лімерык name (town)
Breton
1 entries- Luimneach name (town)
Bulgarian
1 entries- Лимерик name (town)
Cebuano
1 entries- Luimneach name (town)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 利默里克 name (town)
Georgian
1 entries- ლიმერიკი name (town)
German
1 entries- Limerick name (town)
Greek
1 entries- Λίμερικ name (town)
Hebrew
1 entries- לימריק name (town)
Irish
2 entries- Cathair Luimnigh name (town)
- Luimneach name (town)
Japanese
1 entries- リムリック name (town)
Korean
1 entries- 리머릭 name (town)
Latin
1 entries- Limericum name (town)
Lithuanian
1 entries- Limerikas name (town)
Macedonian
1 entries- Лимерик name (town)
Manx
1 entries- Limmeragh name (town)
Marathi
1 entries- लिमेरिक name (town)
Ossetian
1 entries- Лимерик name (town)
Persian
1 entries- لیمرک name (town)
Polish
1 entries- Limerick name (town)
Russian
1 entries- Ли́мерик name (town)
Scots
1 entries- Limerick name (town)
Scottish Gaelic
1 entries- Luimneach name (town)
Ukrainian
1 entries- Лімерик name (town)
Urdu
1 entries- لیمرک name (town)
Uzbek
1 entries- Limerik name (town)
West-Frisian
1 entries- Limmerik name (town)
Sample sentences
4 total sentences available.
The limerick is an Irish poetry form.
Source: tatoeba (11620800)
The limerick, it would appear, Is a verse form we owe Edward Lear; Two long and two short Lines rhymed, as was taught, And a fifth just to bring up the rear.
Source: wiktionary
Take a look. That’s Buffy, Muffy, and Fluffy. Do they have anything in common other than names you could write a limerick around?
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "limerick"?
Closest matches include alba, anacreontic, balada, ballad, ballade.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "limerick"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.