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Multiple Choice

Which term refers to rhymes that sound similar but not exact?

Slant rhyme, also called near rhyme or imperfect rhyme, is rhyme that sounds similar but isn't exact. It happens when the sounds at the ends of words are close enough to echo each other—a shared consonant or vowel sound or a partial overlap—without forming a perfect match. This creates a subtler, more flexible musical effect, often lending a sense of natural speech, tension, or ambiguity to the line. This is different from end rhyme, where the final words of two lines rhyme perfectly; internal rhyme, where rhymes occur inside a single line; and rhyme scheme, which is the overall pattern of end rhymes across a poem or stanza. Slant rhyme is a tool that lets poets experiment with sound while maintaining a restrained or modern feel.

Slant rhyme, also called near rhyme or imperfect rhyme, is rhyme that sounds similar but isn't exact. It happens when the sounds at the ends of words are close enough to echo each other—a shared consonant or vowel sound or a partial overlap—without forming a perfect match. This creates a subtler, more flexible musical effect, often lending a sense of natural speech, tension, or ambiguity to the line.

This is different from end rhyme, where the final words of two lines rhyme perfectly; internal rhyme, where rhymes occur inside a single line; and rhyme scheme, which is the overall pattern of end rhymes across a poem or stanza. Slant rhyme is a tool that lets poets experiment with sound while maintaining a restrained or modern feel.