Honestly, the word "with" is a nightmare for poets. You’d think a word used in almost every sentence would have a long list of perfect matches, but it’s actually one of the most stubborn words in the English language. Most people just give up. They swap the sentence around to avoid the rhyme altogether because "with" sits in a phonetic dead zone.
It’s a function word. Prepositions like "with" aren't usually the stars of the show, but when you're writing a song or a greeting card, that "th" sound at the end becomes a massive roadblock.
The Search for the Perfect Rhyme for With
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. There aren't many. If you're looking for a "perfect" rhyme—where the vowel and the final consonant sound match exactly—you’re basically looking at one word: pith.
That’s it. Pith.
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Unless you're writing a botanical manual or a deep dive into the structural integrity of an orange peel, "pith" isn't exactly a versatile word. It refers to that white, spongy stuff inside citrus fruits or, metaphorically, the essence of something. "He spoke with great pith." It works, but it’s clunky.
Then there’s smith. It’s a common surname and a profession, like a blacksmith or a wordsmith. You can make it work in a narrative poem. "He struck the iron with / the hammer of a smith." It’s a bit 19th-century, but it’s technically a perfect rhyme.
Why the "Th" Sound Messes Everything Up
English is weird about the "th" sound. We have two versions: the voiced "th" (like in this or breathe) and the unvoiced "th" (like in bath or with).
Actually, depending on your dialect, "with" can be pronounced either way. Most Americans use the unvoiced version, which sounds like a soft hiss of air. This is why words like fifth, sixth, or width don't quite hit the mark. They have extra consonant clusters that trip up the tongue.
Try saying "width with" five times fast. You can't. It’s a linguistic pile-up.
Slant Rhymes: The Secret Weapon for Songwriters
Since perfect rhymes for "with" are basically non-existent in everyday conversation, most pros use slant rhymes. These are also called "near rhymes" or "lazy rhymes," though there's nothing lazy about them if they save your poem.
Frith is a real word. It’s an old-fashioned term for a wooded area or a small forest. If you’re writing fantasy or historical fiction, it’s a goldmine. For everyone else? It’s a bit of a stretch.
Then you have words that end in an "if" sound. Think cliff, stiff, sniff, or tiff. If you’re rapping or writing a pop song, these work because the "f" and the "th" sounds are produced in similar parts of the mouth. They are labiodental or dental fricatives. In a fast-paced verse, the ear barely notices the difference.
- Gift (near rhyme)
- Swift (near rhyme)
- Lift (near rhyme)
Notice how those feel okay? They aren't perfect. They’re "good enough." If you’re Eminem, you can make "orange" rhyme with "door hinge," so you can certainly make "with" rhyme with "swift" by bending the vowel slightly.
Common Misconceptions About Rhyming Dictionaries
People trust algorithms too much. If you plug "with" into a standard rhyming dictionary, it might give you forth or birth. Those are terrible suggestions. They change the vowel sound entirely.
"With" uses the short "i" sound ($/ɪ/$). "Birth" uses the schwa or an "er" sound ($/ɜːr/$). They don't rhyme. They don't even slant rhyme. They just happen to end in the same two letters. This is the "eye rhyme" trap.
Myth is another one people suggest. Is it a perfect rhyme? Almost. In many accents, the "y" in myth sounds exactly like the "i" in with. "The legend was a myth / I carried it with." That actually works pretty well in a lyrical context.
The Cultural Impact of the Word With
Think about how often we use this word. It’s about connection. It’s about accompaniment. Because it’s so foundational, our brains almost ignore it. When we try to rhyme it, we realize how lonely the word is.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, pop lyrics often used "with" at the end of a line and just ignored the rhyme entirely, opting for an A-B-C-B structure where only the second and fourth lines rhymed. This is the smart way to handle it. Don't force a rhyme with a word that doesn't want to cooperate.
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Practical List of Words to Use When You're Stuck
If you are absolutely determined to find a rhyme for "with" and you don't want to use "pith" for the tenth time, here are your best bets organized by how desperate you are:
The "Technically Correct" Category
- Pith: The center of a plant or the core of an idea.
- Smith: A metalworker or a common last name.
- Frith: A peace or a wooded enclosure (very British, very old).
- Sithe: An archaic version of "scythe" (rarely used now).
The "Close Enough for a Song" Category (Slant Rhymes)
- Myth: Works nearly perfectly in most American accents.
- Fifth/Sixth/Girth: These work if you emphasize the vowel and swallow the end of the word.
- Kith: As in "kith and kin." It’s a perfect rhyme, but you can almost never use it without the word "kin" following it.
The "I'm Rapping and No One Will Care" Category
- Stiff
- Cliff
- Whiff
- Shift
Why Context Matters More Than Sound
Language isn't just about acoustics. It’s about the vibe. If you’re writing a heartfelt letter, using the word "pith" is going to make you sound like an 18th-century botany professor. It breaks the immersion.
Sometimes, the best rhyme for "with" is a non-rhyme.
Modern poetry often utilizes internal rhyme instead. Instead of rhyming "with" at the end of the line, you rhyme a word inside the next line.
Example:
"I went along with the crowd,
lost in the midst of the sound."
"With" and "midst" share that short "i" and a hint of the dental sound. It feels cohesive without being cheesy.
Expert Tips for Creative Writing
If you're stuck on a rhyme, you’ve probably painted yourself into a corner. Most amateur writers start with the first line and then struggle to find a rhyme for the last word.
Flip it.
Decide what you want your rhyme to be first. If you want to talk about a "myth," then use "with" in the preceding line. It’s much easier to fit "with" into a sentence than it is to fit "pith" or "frith."
Also, check your meter. "With" is an unstressed syllable in most natural speech. If you try to put it at the end of an iambic pentameter line, it’s going to feel weak. It’s a "feminine ending" if it’s an extra unstressed syllable, which can actually add a nice, falling rhythm to your work.
Final Summary of Choices
Finding a rhyme for "with" requires a bit of linguistic gymnastics. You have one or two perfect options that are rarely useful, a handful of archaic words that sound like you're in a Renaissance fair, and a collection of slant rhymes that require a bit of a "mumble" to pull off.
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Actionable Steps for Your Writing
- Check the pronunciation: If you have a thick regional accent, "with" might rhyme with "breath" or "teeth." Lean into your local dialect; it adds character.
- Use slant rhymes early: Don't save the slant rhyme for the climax of the poem. Use it in the first stanza to set the "rules" of your rhyming scheme.
- Try internal rhyming: Move "with" to the middle of the line to take the pressure off.
- Consider the "Kith" exception: If you're writing about family, "kith" is your best friend. "He brought his troubles with / his chosen kith."
- Avoid the dictionary trap: Don't use a word just because a website says it rhymes. If you don't know what the word means, your reader won't either, and the rhyme will feel forced.
Writing shouldn't feel like a math problem. If "with" is causing a headache, rewrite the line. The best writers know when to fight for a rhyme and when to let the sentence breathe on its own.