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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in colloquialism
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of colloquial
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 30 Dec. 2025
In Hong Kong, for instance, most people speak Cantonese, an informal and colloquial language that has its own version of a gender-neutral pronoun – lessening the demand for a new character, said Wan, of rights group Gender Empowerment.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 26 Dec. 2025
The rest of the book is spent expanding on these maxims one by one, in her colloquial, easy style, with references to classic psychological studies, her own research and her own experiences.
—Lamorna Ash, The Dial, 25 Nov. 2025
Through it all, the specifically colloquial quality of the dialogue and the delivery of the vivacious voice cast preserves the film’s Mexican identity.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Adjective
In this context, something as small and lightweight as a pair of earrings could serve as the colloquial glue that united people under one national identity, at a moment in history when destabilization and separation were the modi operandi of a country sharing a border with Ukraine.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 30 Dec. 2025
In Hong Kong, for instance, most people speak Cantonese, an informal and colloquial language that has its own version of a gender-neutral pronoun – lessening the demand for a new character, said Wan, of rights group Gender Empowerment.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 26 Dec. 2025
The rest of the book is spent expanding on these maxims one by one, in her colloquial, easy style, with references to classic psychological studies, her own research and her own experiences.
—Lamorna Ash, The Dial, 25 Nov. 2025
Through it all, the specifically colloquial quality of the dialogue and the delivery of the vivacious voice cast preserves the film’s Mexican identity.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colloquial
Adjective
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Language, Chandler protests, lives and flourishes in bent rules, vernacular expressions—the unruly stuff of life.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
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The design once enjoyed by Javanese nobility references the sacred Javanese architectural vernacular style of saka guru, which represents the cardinal directions and has spiritual significance too.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
Architectural Digest,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Their conversational dance is intricate and fascinating.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2026
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Gartner predicts that by 2028 conversational assistants will resolve 70% of customer-service journeys, handling tasks such as triage, routing and issue resolution.—
Michelle Taite,
Harvard Business Review,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Her vetting crusades have brought about a new Washington colloquialism.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
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The show chugged along nonetheless, gradually attracting fans who adored its stark cinematography and weirdo colloquialisms.—
Claire McNear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The service Service is friendly, but informal, reflecting the relaxed Malibu energy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Mar. 2026
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That reflects poorly on the speaker, who has an informal rule that no major bill will move to the floor unless at least 60 of his chamber’s 78 Democrats support it.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Kaplan has represented District 1 since 2022, but is a familiar name in local politics.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
13 Mar. 2026
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Nearly every cinematic space voyage, however far flung, brushes up against familiar terrain.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This further underscored the symbiotic relationship between Humphreys and smooth jazz, an idiom not held in high regard by the person booking the concerts.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
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Those books introduced me to a vision of American teenage life and taught me the rhythms and idioms of American English, nuances that would later replace my Britishisms and shape my career as a journalist.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But even casual high school boys basketball fans in the western suburbs recognize the Wolves as a force to be reckoned with by going toe-to-toe against top programs in the state under the direction of Velasquez, who is stepping down for some very good personal reasons.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
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Her makeup was similarly casual, with a natural, glowy finish and peach lips.—
Pamela Vázquez,
Glamour,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In military parlance, this usually translates to one attack on a specific target that might involve multiple weapons.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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In baseball parlance, Naylor looked runnerish.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colloquial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colloquial. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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