as in oral
made or carried on through speaking rather than in writing
an unwritten contract may not be enforceable
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Recent Examples of unwritten
In a recent blog post, Grotts said even well-meaning customers often break unwritten rules without realizing it.
—
Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
An unwritten rule of the NBA, it is generally viewed as a sign of respect to run out the clock rather than risk embarrassing an opponent.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 31 Jan. 2026
While some travelers get to know a place by studying its unwritten rules or tracking down the very best version of an iconic food, Mallozzi begins by listening for its rhythms.
—Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2026
For him, that freedom is a way of breaking loose from the genre’s unwritten rules and speaking with his own artistic voice.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unwritten
Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
An unwritten rule of the NBA, it is generally viewed as a sign of respect to run out the clock rather than risk embarrassing an opponent.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 31 Jan. 2026
While some travelers get to know a place by studying its unwritten rules or tracking down the very best version of an iconic food, Mallozzi begins by listening for its rhythms.
—Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2026
For him, that freedom is a way of breaking loose from the genre’s unwritten rules and speaking with his own artistic voice.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unwritten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwritten
Adjective
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Instead, the findings were limited to oral briefings, shared with Summers and Taylor.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Not only do these tools play a role in oral health and disease prevention, but many people are more likely to stay consistent with water flossing — including those managing dental and gum conditions.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Physically frail, yet in full verbal command, Julian doesn’t talk to Lori so much as at her, pausing only to fire off questions that harden, in midair, into assumptions.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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Roediger allegedly saw the woman speaking with her boyfriend in the front yard on her bedroom security monitor and then went to the front door where a verbal altercation ensued.—
Christine Pelisek,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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These echoes of dance music’s past inject new life into the 25-year-old British artist’s soft-spoken oeuvre.—
Aimee Cliff,
Pitchfork,
3 Apr. 2026
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Whereas listening to a spoken explanation requires sustained attention and is subject to interpretation, a flowchart presents information objectively.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unwritten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwritten. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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