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
-
What is a Green Beret? Green Beret is the colloquial name used for members of the U.S. Army Special Forces.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr.,
USA TODAY,
2 Jan. 2025
-
Purple group — colloquial suffixes (CORE, GATE, MANIA, PILLED) No perfect game, but that's nine wins in a row.—
Kris Holt,
Forbes,
5 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
While the brand has collaborated with everyone from Sacai and Undercover to Bulgari, Rimowa and most recently, Ugg, Ahn wanted the book to focus on its own aesthetic — perhaps also to remind industry observers of the origin of some ideas that have since entered the fashion vernacular.—
Joelle Diderich,
WWD,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Elon Musk is street vernacular for a male body part.—
Rebecca Falconer,
Axios,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Many fundamental aspects of teamwork—such as spontaneous collaboration, real-time feedback and informal bonding—are harder to cultivate in a virtual environment.—
Daria Rudnik,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Sorry to break it to you, but the tampering that happens is not informal.—
Cory Lavalette,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unliterary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unliterary. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share