Doggerel is a noun for comicfunny or intended to make people laugh, rhymingusing words that end with similar sounds verse that is deliberately or accidentally rough in meterthe pattern of stressed and unstressed beats in poetry and often sounds playful, silly, or poorly written.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈdɑɡərəl/
Easy pronunciation: DOG-uh-rel (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: DOG.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Doggerel Meaning
Silly or rough-sounding verse, often meant to be funny.
Part of speech: noun
Definition: Comic verse with irregular rhythm and simple, often clumsy rhyme.
Example: He kept muttering a bit of silly doggerel to himself.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- jingle — Can work when the verse is short, catchy, and light, though it is broader than doggerel.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Doggerel Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- jingle
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use doggerel for any bad poetry, but it most specifically suggests rough, comic, or intentionally light verse.
- Do not confuse doggerel with doggerel verse, which is just a descriptive phrase rather than a separate synonym.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does doggerel mean?
Doggerel means comic or silly verse with rough rhythm and simple rhyme, often sounding awkward or badly written.
Is doggerel a compliment?
Usually not. It often suggests that the verse is trivial, playful, or of low poetic quality.
What is a synonym for doggerel?
A close synonym is jingle, though doggerel is more specific and can imply rough or clumsy verse.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.