Once upon a time, there was a bookstore named Borders. When it became apparent this bookstore was going out of business, I sped off in my little red Honda to see what books I could save from the dustbin.
One of my printed treasures turned out to be Nothing Rhymes with Orange (originally published as Capricorn Rhyming Dictionary in 1938). If you’re an aspiring poet, songwriter, or other type of rhymer, you’ll want this book. If you’d rather have a fine time finding rhymes online, here are some suggestions for your bookmarking attention:
With RhymeZone, You Can Also Use Your Phone: This site helps you find other words that rhyme (and nearly rhyme) with your selected word. RhymeZone is refreshingly light on advertising and heavy on additional features.
From the Home page, you can search within a Shakespeare database (really), access selected “Great Documents,” take a few eclectic quizzes, and tap into other assorted tools. This site’s developers are forward thinking enough to offer you an app version for Android and iPhone/iPad smart devices.
Your RhymeBrain Is Never Preordained: Here’s another helpful site when you need help composing love-struck song lyrics or gossamer-winged poetry. What’s nice about RhymeBrain are the other offered features: Invent-a-word, Alliteration Aid (see this old post for my alliterative advice), Songwriting helper (hamburger sold separately), and the Dewordifier.
WikiRhymer Requires a Mountain Climber: This site claims to be the “best rhyming dictionary.” Gee, I wonder how many words I can find that rhyme with “modest” when using their search tool? After you search on a word for its relatives, WikiRhymer distinguishes among many rhyming options: Pure Rhymes, End Rhymes, Near Rhymes, Near End Rhymes, and even Mosaic Rhymes.
WriteExpress Cleans Up Your Rhyming Mess: The Rhymer website is a limited rhyming dictionary compiled and maintained by a company called WriteExpress. It distinguishes five ways to narrow your rhyming search: End Rhymes, Last Syllable Rhymes, Double Rhymes, Beginning Rhymes, and First Syllable Rhymes.
If you want even more rhymes, you’ll need to invest $19.99 in Rhymer’s full-featured desktop/laptop version. Just like WikiRhymer, this site also claims to be “The Best Rhyming Dictionary.” I wonder if there’s a word that rhymes with “puzzlement.” Embezzlement? Hmm…
Rhyming Bonus From The Princess Bride: This is the scene in which Vizzini, Fezzik, and Inigo (Montoya!) have just abducted Princess Buttercup and are departing Florin by ship. If you’ve never seen this movie, it is a must-view, sly, adult fairy tale of a film:
“Inigo: Vizzini, he can…fuss. Fezzik: Fuss, fuss, I think he likes to scream at us. Inigo: Probably he means no…harm. Fezzik: He’s very very short on…charm. Inigo: You have a great gift for rhyme. Fezzik: Yes, yes, some of the time. Vizzini: [overhearing Fezzik] Enough of that! Inigo: Fezzik, are there rocks ahead? Fezzik: If there are, we all be dead. Vizzini: No more rhymes now, I mean it! Fezzik: Anybody want a peanut? Vizzini: Aauuuggghhhhh!!!”!!!
When you need to find rhyming words, where do you usually begin? Now that you’ve read this blog post, are you more inclined to bookmark one of the mentioned websites and use it? I really must go, but I do so want to know…
Lori Shapiro is the owner of By All Writes LLC, a business writing, editing, and research company in Marlton, New Jersey. She revels in shielding her clients from the pain of writing their own print and web marketing copy. Call her (856-810-9764) or email her (lori@byallwrites.biz) for a no-obligation project quote today!
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