as in colloquial
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing
poems written in a natural, unliterary voice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
Because back nine is close to backside, and backside is just far too colloquial.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Russ Scholl, a ski instructor at Breckenridge Ski Resort, has published a 133-square grid of funky colloquial phrases for different types of snow.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
In addition to the musical reconstruction, McBurney has been making a contemporary English version of the libretto, with the translator Hannah Whitley, that preserves the original’s vernacular.—
Jeffrey Arlo Brown,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
-
This therapist speaks in a very specific kind of vernacular.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Reznick and some former Video Game Writers Caucus members continue to hold informal group meetings.—
Simon Abrams,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Apr. 2025
-
In an informal presentation Monday to the Planning and Zoning Commission, Evjen and his consultants said the project would cluster the condos and parking to provide acreage for a wide conservation easement around the pond.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unliterary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unliterary. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share