1
as in vernacular
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing
the new coworker's rudeness soon began—to use a colloquial expression—to rub me the wrong way
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in conversational
having the style and content of everyday conversation
a colloquial essay on what makes a marriage successful
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in colloquialism
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of colloquial
James Folta, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Gilbert’s colloquial style, once a source of great pleasure, has tipped into new territory—an ingenuousness that blends guru and disciple, mother and child.
—Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
But the colloquial use of the term has prompted criticism from some.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 20 July 2025
Proposition 12 is the colloquial term for the Farm Animal Confinement Initiative.
—Alan Wooten, The Washington Examiner, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Noun
This isn’t about a desire for simpler, colloquial language.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Gilbert’s colloquial style, once a source of great pleasure, has tipped into new territory—an ingenuousness that blends guru and disciple, mother and child.
—Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
But the colloquial use of the term has prompted criticism from some.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 20 July 2025
Proposition 12 is the colloquial term for the Farm Animal Confinement Initiative.
—Alan Wooten, The Washington Examiner, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colloquial
Adjective
-
For such an insistence on democracy, the pavilion is curiously tepid in its politics, save for a kind of vernacular populism and some PBS-esque nods to the Gee’s Bend quilters.—
Kate Wagner,
Curbed,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Once again, his use of vernacular and social media address appeared to be mocking the President’s own style.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The result of my efforts is a column (some call it a blog) that, after 898 columns before it, represents some of my best work as a photojournalist — further described by my text, written in an easy to read, conversational style.—
Jan Wagner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Airlearn avoids that pitfall by leading each lesson into conversational practice, combining grammar, pronunciation, and context to bridge the gap from recognition to use.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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What started out as an advertising slogan for Apple more than 15 years ago has morphed into somewhat of a modern day colloquialism: There should be an app for that.—
Katherine Fung,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
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This could involve helping systems learn colloquialisms and proper usages of terms.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Long sought-after by fans, Electric Nebraska is the informal title of the album that Springsteen and the E Street Band recorded in 1982 from a collection of demos for his follow-up to The River.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
3 Oct. 2025
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Use just one to three large informal dahlias with smaller additions like spray roses, cosmos, eucalyptus, or larkspur.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Spooky season is officially in full swing and Nashville's nightlife scene is getting a haunted makeover with Halloween pop-up bars transforming familiar haunts into eerie, immersive experiences.—
Mackensy Lunsford,
Nashville Tennessean,
2 Oct. 2025
-
For those who aren’t familiar, RedZone is the NFL broadcast that whisks viewers around the league to the best moments of every game on Sundays.—
Charlotte Wilder,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, analytical software has revolutionized linguistic inquiry, enabling greater understanding of the ways language works—when, how, and why words break out; the specific contexts for expressions and idioms.—
Stefan Fatsis,
The Atlantic,
13 Sep. 2025
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Nonnas There's a saying that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and Joe Scaravella (Vince Vaughn) of 2025's Nonnas is the perfect depiction of the idiom.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Team it with ballet flats or sneakers for a casual day of apple-picking or tailgating this fall, or dress it up with tights and boots for holiday celebrations and other special occasions.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
-
The teal stood out in the parade of super-casual fits.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There are plenty of roles available if Harry wants to work inside Disneyland or Disney California Adventure as a cast member, Disney parlance for employees.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
26 Sep. 2025
-
In the parlance of the AI field, the emotional states are linear directions.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Colloquial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colloquial. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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