Merriam-Webster's Rhyming Dictionary

Rating:
Summary: Take This Quiz: Do YOU Need A Rhyming Dictionary?
Review: The "Merriam-Webster's Rhyming Dictionary" is a book that should be on your reference shelf only if you agree with the following generalizations:

1. I like to write a little doggerel now and then-for over-the-hill birthdays or graduation or whatever.

2. There are times when my letters would benefit from a rhymed introduction.

3. A rhyming dictionary is a dandy way to teach youngsters the vagaries of spelling.

If you do agree, know that this is the definitive reference for rhyming. Also know that this book is not easy to use. They say even a dictionary is difficult if you don't already know the rudiments of spelling. This is one is trickier. When you buy a bike, you should "read the instructions before assembly." It is even more important to read the preface of this dictionary before you try to use it.

I'd love it if there were an easier approach to finding a good rhyming word. I can't think of one. The advantage to doing it the way Merriam's does it is that, if you want a rhyme that isn't kitschy or too pat, it will be easy to find near the word's perfectly matched rhymes.

Most poets already know the secrets of this book. It won't be long before the rest of us-including new poets like me--will get the hang of such literary jargon as "main entries," "cross-referenced entries," "identification numbers," and "inflected and derived forms." It's a little like doing a crossword puzzle. I'm beginning to love this!

Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of "This is the Place"

Rating:
Summary: Take This Quiz: Do YOU Need A Rhyming Dictionary?
Review: The "Merriam-Webster's Rhyming Dictionary" is a book that should be on your reference shelf only if you agree with the following generalizations:

1. I like to write a little doggerel now and then-for over-the-hill birthdays or graduation or whatever.

2. There are times when my letters would benefit from a rhymed introduction.

3. A rhyming dictionary is a dandy way to teach youngsters the vagaries of spelling.

If you do agree, know that this is the definitive reference for rhyming. Also know that this book is not easy to use. They say even a dictionary is difficult if you don't already know the rudiments of spelling. This is one is trickier. When you buy a bike, you should "read the instructions before assembly." It is even more important to read the preface of this dictionary before you try to use it.

I'd love it if there were an easier approach to finding a good rhyming word. I can't think of one. The advantage to doing it the way Merriam's does it is that, if you want a rhyme that isn't kitschy or too pat, it will be easy to find near the word's perfectly matched rhymes.

Most poets already know the secrets of this book. It won't be long before the rest of us-including new poets like me--will get the hang of such literary jargon as "main entries," "cross-referenced entries," "identification numbers," and "inflected and derived forms." It's a little like doing a crossword puzzle. I'm beginning to love this!

Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of "This is the Place"

Rating:
Summary: A Not-So-Easy but Essential Reference
Review: ... The Merriam-Webster's Rhyming Dictionary is a book that belongs in everyone's bookcase. Doesn't everyone write a little doggerel now and then-for over-the-hill birthdays or graduation? How about teaching our youngsters the vagaries of spelling? If you don't agree with the above generalizations, then you can skip the rest of this review.
If you do, know that this is the definitive reference for rhyming. A word of advice, though. It is not easy to use. They say even a dictionary is difficult if you don't already know the rudiments of spelling. This one is trickier. When you buy a bike, you should "read the instructions before assembly." It is more important to read the preface of this dictionary before you try to use it.
I'd love it if there were an easier approach to finding a good rhyming word. I can't think of one. The advantage to doing it the way it is done in this small reference is that, if you want a rhyme that isn't kitschy or too pat, it will be easy to find near the word's precise rhyme. The way it is set up, similar sounding words are grouped near the perfectly-matched rhymes.
Most poets already know the secrets of this book. It won't be long before the rest of us-including new poets like me--will get the hang of such literary jargon as "main entries," "cross-referenced entries," "identification numbers," and "inflected and derived forms." It's a little like doing a crossword puzzle. I'm beginning to love this. ...

Rating:
Summary: Rhyme Time Is Here!
Review: First of all, this is a FABULOUS rhyming dictionary! I'm only 25 pages into it and already I've learned a great deal. For instance, did you know that abbey, Abby, blabby, cabbie, crabby, flabby, gabby, grabby, scabby, shabby, tabby, kohlrabi, Panjabi, and Punjabi all rhyme with "abby?" Ok, maybe you knew two or three of those but how many of us would have actually thought-up "kohlrabi?" How great is this book! I must admit, however, that I am a little chagrin because although this is a superior dictionary, they still have not found a proper rhyme for the word "orange." Ah well, this is still hours of fun and laughs!

Fair thee well!
JPM

Rating:
Summary: Difficult to use? No way, Jose, Andre, Clay, or Jay.
Review: I bought this rhyming dictionary from Amazon noting that it was cheap and thinking most of them would be the same. In general, it has served me well, but while looking up a rhyme in the "er" family, I noticed that it didn't have "care." It had "air" and "dare" and a ton of other words, but it didn't have "care."

This might seem like a minor point, but I have to wonder, What other words are missing? If you want a resource like this, you want it to be comprehensive. Sure, I knew "care" myself, but what other wonderful rhymes aren't included in this book? I can't be certain.

As I've said, it's generally served me well, but this whole "care" thing has bothered me and sent me looking for a better rhyming resource. I'd look at the others before I'd buy this one again.

Rating:
Summary: It didn't have "care"
Review: I bought this rhyming dictionary from Amazon noting that it was cheap and thinking most of them would be the same. In general, it has served me well, but while looking up a rhyme in the "er" family, I noticed that it didn't have "care." It had "air" and "dare" and a ton of other words, but it didn't have "care."

This might seem like a minor point, but I have to wonder, What other words are missing? If you want a resource like this, you want it to be comprehensive. Sure, I knew "care" myself, but what other wonderful rhymes aren't included in this book? I can't be certain.

As I've said, it's generally served me well, but this whole "care" thing has bothered me and sent me looking for a better rhyming resource. I'd look at the others before I'd buy this one again.

Rating:
Summary: Many common words missing
Review: I've been surprised again and again by how many common rhyming words are carelessly omitted from the lists in this book. It's cheap but still not worth the money.

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Summary: This Book Is The Book For You, EmCee!!
Review: I've long searched for a book for which I could have any rhyme possible at my fingertips. I'd searched long and hard for a rhyme dictionary that could meet my needs as an emcee.(Rapper) I've seen many before, which boast mostly about how many entries they each had. Claims have been made by some of the other rhyming dictionaries on my book shelf. Some claimed to be more comprehensive, more thorough, offer extra sections, and what have you; But the most useful among these dictionaries has been this beauty, the Merriam Webster Rhyming Dictionary. Why, do you ask? 3 words, fellow MC's, 3 words: EASE OF USE. Some of the other books spell words in their entries by how they sound. But this book arranges them phonetically, and as a plus you don't have to search through mono- and poly-syllabbic rhymes as seperate entries. What's that mean? This means that if you search under A, E, I, O, U, you'll find some simple & tight rhymes. As an example, if you look for a word under "ag", you'll find that it starts from all the words arranged from there monosyllabic forms, (ex. bag, rag, jag, sag,) followed by the bisyllabic rhymes, (ex. dirtbag, dishrag,)and so on my scallywags. It cuts through all the b.s., and goes straight to what you need, no fuss, no muss. One key feature is the cross referencing. If you can't find a word you're looking for, there are a lot of "See also, words that end in ocks, ox or some words that end with..." at the end of a lot of entries. Just many of the ways this book proves itself. If you write rhymes for the purpose of producing rap music, Then I'll tell ya, Mic Men. This is the ultimate book for you. Whether your just startin' out, or you're are already seriously packing skills, this is the book you can't possibly be with out. It is as this MC describes as "the one reference tool, that is indisputably, irrefutably, quite dutifully the best there is." Trust me. This book stings like a bee, n' floats like a butterfly!

Rating:
Summary: Difficult to use? No way, Jose, Andre, Clay, or Jay.
Review: Not sure what the other reviewers are talking about re the supposed difficulty of using this book. I find it simplicity itself. You start with the sound you want to rhyme against, starting with a vowel. For example, if the word you want to rhyme against is "brave," you go to the A's and find "ave," and there's your list. I have never read the book's instructions, and never needed them.

Also, this is not just for people writing jingles and doggerel. Some real poets still rhyme, at least some of the time, old friends of mine.