doggerel

American  

[daw-ger-uhl, dog-er-] / ˈdɔ gər əl, ˈdɒg ər- /

Also doggrel

adjective

1. (of verse)

   1. comic or burlesque, and usually loose or irregular in measure.

   2. rude; crude; poor.

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noun

1. doggerel verse.

doggerel British  

/ ˈdɒɡərəl, ˈdɒɡrəl /

noun

1. 1. comic verse, usually irregular in measure

   2. ( as modifier )

      a doggerel rhythm

2. nonsense; drivel

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Etymology

Origin of doggerel

1350–1400; Middle English; dog, -rel; dog Latin

Example Sentences

For 15 years, he wrote a long-form narrative every three weeks for the New Yorker; he’s also written shorter reported pieces, comic sketches and doggerel for the Nation, Time and elsewhere.

From Los Angeles Times

Some listeners heard a latter-day Ogden Nash in Mr. Osgood’s segments, though he told People magazine, “My stuff isn’t poetry — it’s just rampant doggerel.”

From New York Times

Let John Denton’s doggerel stand in for all the great jottings that didn’t make it into “Dear California.”

From Los Angeles Times

ChatGPT can turn out doggerel poetry or freshman and sophomore essays, pass tests on some technical subjects, write press releases, compile legal filings with a veneer of professionalism.

From Los Angeles Times

Worse, he was capable of doggerel even dogs wouldn’t want to read:

From New York Times

Related Words

• cadence
• poem
• poetry
• rhythm
• tune
• verse