bookish

adjective

ˈbu̇-kish How to pronounce bookish (audio)
Definition of bookishnext
as in literary
suggestive of the vocabulary used in books "fealty" is a bookish synonym for "loyalty"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 bookish Read our full bookish tribute to Parton here, or learn how to sign up for the Imagination Library here. — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 Over the years, The Book Rack has offered thousands of books across a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres, along with candles, notebooks, bookish gifts and more than 100 puzzles. — Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2026 Bella Padilla Everitt is a bookish 13-year-old who likes to write poetry. — John Wisely, Freep.com, 16 Aug. 2026 Sophie Pearce is a Welsh travel blogger who has visited Egypt, India and New Zealand on a quest to see magical, historic and bookish destinations. — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bookish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bookish
literary
Adjective
  • That point is proved time and again, as editors scheme against each other, belittle each other’s literary taste and throw Batter under the bus whenever an opportunity arises.
    — Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • From the settings of spooky flicks and gothic literary legends to places that take their pumpkin patches and seasonal decor quite seriously, these eight spots prove that Halloween is so much more than a single night.
    — Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of literary

Browse Nearby Words

booking
bookish
bookishness
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Cite this Entry

“Bookish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bookish. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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