as in oral
made or carried on through speaking rather than in writing
an unwritten contract may not be enforceable
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 unwritten
An unwritten rule reserving membership for liberal democracies keeps authoritarian China out, even as its trade surplus, rare minerals, military buildup and huge carbon footprint dominate the summit’s agenda.
—
John Leicester,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
In fact, most of the unwritten rules around bathrooms on airplanes come back to this kind of moment, when one person in the wrong spot slows everything down.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
The vaunted seats come along with a few unwritten rules and expectations, Favorito explained.
—
ABC News,
9 June 2026
But his civic legacy is still unwritten.
—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unwritten
John Leicester,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
In fact, most of the unwritten rules around bathrooms on airplanes come back to this kind of moment, when one person in the wrong spot slows everything down.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
The vaunted seats come along with a few unwritten rules and expectations, Favorito explained.
—
ABC News,
9 June 2026
But his civic legacy is still unwritten.
—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unwritten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwritten
Adjective
-
His son developed Bell's palsy, a sudden paralysis on one side of the face, but recovered quickly after a course of oral antibiotics.
-
The oral warning did not come with any formal discipline or fines for the players and was not meant to single out the content of the message, according to MLB.
Adjective
-
Pay attention during the rest of the day to avoid accidents – verbal or physical.
-
Antonucci said working with dogs can help patients practice and improve communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal.
Adjective
-
The abbreviation dates to the early 20th century, and the spelling emcee emerged as the spoken form became a standalone noun and verb, meaning to host or present an event.
-
He’s been nominated for an Academy Award (for his role in Hotel Rwanda) and numerous Emmys, and has won two Grammys (for the soundtrack to his Miles Davis biopic Miles Ahead, and for a spoken-word album).
Cite this Entry
“Unwritten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwritten. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
