slant rhyme: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Literary/Academic
Quick answer
What does “slant rhyme” mean?
A type of rhyme where the words have similar but not identical sounds, often matching consonants while vowels differ (e.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of rhyme where the words have similar but not identical sounds, often matching consonants while vowels differ (e.g., 'worm'/'swarm'), or matching vowels while consonants differ (e.g., 'beat'/'seed').
In poetry and lyrics, a deliberate and artistic matching of imperfectly rhymed words to create a subtler, more sophisticated, or dissonant sonic effect than a perfect rhyme.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both British and American literary analysis use the term identically. 'Half rhyme' is a very common synonym in British contexts.
Connotations
Suggests learned analysis, formal discussion of poetic technique, and creative writing workshops.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, confined to literary and educational discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “slant rhyme” in a Sentence
The poet VERB with a slant rhyme between 'X' and 'Y'.'X' and 'Y' form a slant rhyme.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “slant rhyme” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The poet's frequent use of half rhyme creates a haunting, unsettled tone.
- Can you identify the slant rhyme in the second stanza?
American English
- The song lyric employs a slant rhyme between 'home' and 'alone'.
- Modern poetry often favours slant rhyme over perfect rhyme.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Almost never used.
Academic
Used in literature, poetry, and creative writing courses to analyse sound patterns.
Everyday
Very rarely used outside educational/literary discussions.
Technical
Core term in prosody (the study of verse) and lyric writing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “slant rhyme”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “slant rhyme”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “slant rhyme”
- Using it to describe any bad or accidental rhyme (it's intentional).
- Confusing it with 'eye rhyme' (e.g., 'love'/'move'), which only looks similar.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are related. Assonance (matching vowel sounds) and consonance (matching consonant sounds) are the building blocks of slant rhyme. A slant rhyme typically combines them imperfectly, e.g., 'worm/swarm' has consonance on the final /rm/ but assonance is imperfect (/ɜː/ vs /ɔː/).
To avoid the sing-song effect of perfect rhyme, to create a more modern, conversational, or uneasy tone, to allow for greater vocabulary choice, and to create subtler connections between ideas.
No. While heavily used by 19th and 20th-century poets like Emily Dickinson, Wilfred Owen, and W.B. Yeats, examples can be found in older folk poetry and verse.
Slant rhyme is about sound (imperfect auditory match). Eye rhyme is about spelling (words look like they should rhyme but don't, e.g., 'cough'/'bough'). An eye rhyme can sometimes also be a slant rhyme if the sounds are vaguely similar.
A type of rhyme where the words have similar but not identical sounds, often matching consonants while vowels differ (e.
Slant rhyme is usually technical/literary/academic in register.
Slant rhyme: in British English it is pronounced /ˈslɑːnt ˌraɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈslænt ˌraɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No specific idioms; the term itself is technical]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a roof with a SLANT—it's not flat (perfect). A SLANT rhyme is not a straight, perfect match either.
Conceptual Metaphor
RHYME IS A MATCH / RHYME IS HARMONY. A slant rhyme is an IMPERFECT MATCH or DISSONANT HARMONY.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the best example of a slant rhyme?