What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
monody
Example
The singer's monody at the funeral moved everyone to tears. [monody: noun]
Example
She delivered a beautiful monody in memory of her late husband. [monody: noun]
Example
The monody played by the violinist was hauntingly beautiful. [monody: noun]
dirge
Example
The choir sang a dirge at the funeral service. [dirge: noun]
Example
The sound of the bagpipes playing a dirge echoed through the cemetery. [dirge: noun]
Example
The composer wrote a beautiful dirge in memory of his late wife. [dirge: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Dirge is less commonly used than monody in everyday language. Dirge is typically reserved for specific funeral or mourning contexts, while monody can be used more broadly to describe any expression of sadness or lamentation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between monody and dirge?
Both monody and dirge are formal terms that are typically used in serious or somber contexts, such as funerals or memorials.
