as in colloquial
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing
poems written in a natural, unliterary voice
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Recent Examples of unliterary
The bond between Alice and the spiky, decidedly unliterary Felix might flummox.
—
New York Times, 1 Sep. 2021
Both were born as writers in public libraries—hyper-bright American Jewish urban boys from unliterary backgrounds, encountering the classics on their own, without too much pre-sorting, responding with delight, imitation, amusement, and familiarity.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2021
New York Times, 1 Sep. 2021
Both were born as writers in public libraries—hyper-bright American Jewish urban boys from unliterary backgrounds, encountering the classics on their own, without too much pre-sorting, responding with delight, imitation, amusement, and familiarity.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unliterary
Adjective
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So what follows is the colloquial Q&A, more or less unedited, from my email exchange with that reporter.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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The Small House at Allington by Anthony Trollope Trollope is a more colloquial writer.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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Coaches and deans and ADs weren’t amending their vernacular to avoid offending kids.—
Dawn Staley,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
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Mamet emphasizes the vernacular like a theatrical soothsayer while Zahler visualizes violence to clarify circumstance and character.—
Armond White,
National Review,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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Poor areas with informal housing were the worst affected, government officials said.—
Gerald Imray,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2025
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There have been informal talks between the clubs, but Newcastle, who are keen to avoid paying inflated fees, have alternative options.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unliterary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unliterary. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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