We propose a metriplectic reformulation of Lagrangian variational formulations for non-equilibrium thermodynamics. We prove that solutions to these constrained variational principles can be generated by the sum of a classic Poisson bracket and a metriplectic 4-bracket, that takes the Hamiltonian and the entropy as generators. We study different cases: simple systems, discrete systems, Euler-Poincaré reduced systems and systems with no symplectic part. Several example are shown, including infinite dimensional problems arising from continuum mechanics.

19 pages