minstrel

noun

ˈmin(t)-strəl How to pronounce minstrel (audio)
Definition of minstrelnext
as in poet
a person who writes poetry Edna St. Vincent Millay was unofficially the minstrel of Maine, as her poetry celebrates its coast and countryside

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 minstrel Target is apologizing for selling a children's Halloween costume that some described as reminiscent of racist minstrel caricatures. — Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026 After facing criticism for selling a children’s circus clown Halloween costume that critics claimed evoked blackface and minstrel shows, Target has publicly apologized. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026 In minstrel shows, white performers wore Black face and mocked Black people for entertainment. — Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 19 Aug. 2026 The musician-scholar Rhiannon Giddens, a leading interpreter of 19th-century American songs, told me that discussing Foster’s context is difficult because minstrel entertainment is so little understood today. — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for minstrel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for minstrel
poet
Noun
  • At Hull’s railway station an hour or so later, a few Manchester United fans are scanning the departures board near Philip Larkin’s statue, which captures the late poet mid-stride.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Simeon’s Corey Randolph is a big guy with the soul of a poet and the hands of a sculptor.
    — Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of poet

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minstrel
minstrels
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Cite this Entry

“Minstrel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/minstrel. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on minstrel

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about minstrel

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