Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

colloquial

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of colloquial

1 used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing
  • the new coworkerʼs rudeness soon began—to use a colloquial expression—to rub me the wrong way
Synonyms of colloquial

conversational, informal, nonformal, nonliterary, unbookish, unliterary, vernacular, vulgar
Words Related to colloquial

dialectal, dialectical (also dialectic), nonstandard, regional

incorrect, nongrammatical, substandard, uneducated, ungrammatical, unlearned

slang, slangy
Near Antonyms of colloquial

standard, undialectical

correct, educated, genteel, grammatical, proper
Antonyms of colloquial

bookish, formal, learned, literary
2 having the style and content of everyday conversation
  • a colloquial essay on what makes a marriage successful
Synonyms of colloquial

chattery, chatty, conversational, dishy, gossipy, newsy
Words Related to colloquial

casual, familiar, informal, intimate, tell-all

digressive, discursive, rambling

communicative, expansive, garrulous, talkative
Near Antonyms of colloquial

ceremonious, dignified, elevated, formal, solemn, stately
Antonyms of colloquial

bookish, literary

Learn More about colloquial

  1. Dictionary: Definition of colloquial Spanish Central: Translation of colloquial Nglish: Translation of colloquial for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of colloquial for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up colloquial? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

reverberate

Listen to the pronounciation of reverberate

to reflect, repel, echo, or resound

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. catamount Vermont enters the Round of 64

  2. mendacious, mendacity George Conway calls Trump a liar

  3. crawdad New novel makes waves

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games