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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in conversational
having the style and content of everyday conversation
a colloquial essay on what makes a marriage successful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in colloquialism
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of colloquial
Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 5 Mar. 2026
The city of big apples, hand-tossed pizzas and the colloquial adverb deadass.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
This time around, our Traitors and Faithfuls are a beautiful assortment of Housewives, Survivors, athletes, actors, and plenty of mothers — both literal (Donna Kelce) and in the colloquial sense (Porsha Williams).
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
The colloquial term Paczki Day is used for Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras.
—Jelissa Burns, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Adjective
CORAs are the colloquial shorthand for public records requests.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 5 Mar. 2026
The city of big apples, hand-tossed pizzas and the colloquial adverb deadass.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
This time around, our Traitors and Faithfuls are a beautiful assortment of Housewives, Survivors, athletes, actors, and plenty of mothers — both literal (Donna Kelce) and in the colloquial sense (Porsha Williams).
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
The colloquial term Paczki Day is used for Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras.
—Jelissa Burns, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colloquial
Adjective
-
This pattern blends the storytelling rhythm of the Persian mas̄navī (narrative poem written in rhyming couplets) with vernacular Hindi verse forms.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The final tour on May 30 will be Avon and Simsbury including architectural themes of vernacular farmhouses, Georgian and Federal homes and the classic saltbox home.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Warchocki began as a technology experiment led by entrepreneur Radosław Grzelaczyk, with support from AI developer Bartosz Idzik, who built the system powering the robot’s conversational abilities.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Apr. 2026
-
For retail, Google’s agents serve as conversational agents that can understand user intent, analyze images, and make personalized recommendations.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The exhibit’s title is derived from a Spanish colloquialism.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Her vetting crusades have brought about a new Washington colloquialism.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Though Fleury turned over the net to Gustavsson and Wallstedt on the ice, the 41-year-old with the second-most wins in NHL history has stayed around the team this season as a practice goalie and with an informal front office role as a player development advisor.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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The site plan for 1st Street Farms includes a range of outdoor amenities such as a multi-use turf field designed for youth sports and community programming, landscaped gardens and walking paths, and open green space for informal recreation and seasonal events.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Its path to passage has teetered all week in a familiar fight, as lawmakers weigh civil liberties concerns against intelligence officials' warnings about national security risks.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Its path to passage has teetered all week in a familiar fight, as lawmakers weigh civil liberties concerns against intelligence officials’ warnings about national security risks.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And, as the idiom goes, steel sharpens steel.—
Kyle Eustice,
SPIN,
7 Apr. 2026
-
An idiom is a phrase that is common to a certain population.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Jamie’s blends retail with a casual bistro atmosphere.—
Chris Malloy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
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For attorneys in an overcrowded marketplace, in a city with casual ethics and a weakness for flamboyance, an outlandish sales pitch can be the best way to break through.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Michaels, who worked with Williams during the latter’s time in NXT, felt that Williams made a great babyface (a good guy in wrestling parlance), but needed to spend more time as a heel (bad guy).—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
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In industry parlance, proponents of public power call for an electric distribution utility, which would own the local distribution grid and minimize the high costs — those delivery charges — of using higher voltage transmission lines.—
Craig D. Rose,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colloquial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colloquial. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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