as in literary
suggestive of the vocabulary used in books
"fealty" is a bookish synonym for "loyalty"
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 bookish
Everything Everywhere All at Once is a supernova of emo cartoon invention that plays its comic-bookish multiversal premise for both delirious running gags and unabashedly gushy sentimentality.
—
A.a. Dowd, Chron, 4 Feb. 2023
An entire bar shut down, if momentarily, because of our bookish tread.
—Gary Shteyngart, The New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2023
Sandwiched between two popes more skilled in reaching out to non-Catholics, Benedict was seen as a bookish purist.
—Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 31 Dec. 2022
Sandwiched between two popes more skilled in outreach to non-Catholics, Benedict was seen as a bookish purist.
—Chico Harlan, Stefano Pitrelli, Marisa Iati, Anchorage Daily News, 31 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for bookish
A.a. Dowd, Chron, 4 Feb. 2023
An entire bar shut down, if momentarily, because of our bookish tread.
—Gary Shteyngart, The New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2023
Sandwiched between two popes more skilled in reaching out to non-Catholics, Benedict was seen as a bookish purist.
—Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 31 Dec. 2022
Sandwiched between two popes more skilled in outreach to non-Catholics, Benedict was seen as a bookish purist.
—Chico Harlan, Stefano Pitrelli, Marisa Iati, Anchorage Daily News, 31 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for bookish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bookish
literary
Adjective
-
The law is vague and broad and included no room for considering the literary merit of the work, and so the result was a wave of book bans across the state.—
Peter Greene,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Amid the pillaging of homes, Roman magistrates were likely sent to the city to prevent an anarchic type of existence, based on ancient literary sources the authors referenced in the study.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bookish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bookish. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share