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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of colloquial
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 May 2025
There was something about Mecano’s language: it was spoken, colloquial, very Eighties, and unafraid to just say things.
—Vita Dadoo, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2025
Because back nine is close to backside, and backside is just far too colloquial.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Russ Scholl, a ski instructor at Breckenridge Ski Resort, has published a 133-square grid of funky colloquial phrases for different types of snow.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Noun
The Small House at Allington by Anthony Trollope Trollope is a more colloquial writer.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 May 2025
There was something about Mecano’s language: it was spoken, colloquial, very Eighties, and unafraid to just say things.
—Vita Dadoo, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2025
Because back nine is close to backside, and backside is just far too colloquial.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Russ Scholl, a ski instructor at Breckenridge Ski Resort, has published a 133-square grid of funky colloquial phrases for different types of snow.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colloquial
Adjective
-
Central to the book is the titular premise, which subsequently entered the vernacular.—
Brian Boone,
Vulture,
18 June 2025
-
Those terms include a bunch of debuts, some of which are surprising, and a lot of entertaining vernacular.—
Caitlin Lovinger,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Noun
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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
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You would be forgiven for assuming this a playful colloquialism, perhaps revealing a tenderness to the hunt.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Training and development: Are there formal and informal opportunities to build new, relevant knowledge and skills?—
Bruce Tulgan,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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Chris Jackson/Getty Images At one stage, the king had hoped for a more informal meeting in Scotland, where the royals spend their summer holiday.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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Managers saw themselves as solving the equivalent of familiar jigsaw puzzles.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
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The whole first half of the season saw Hamilton struggle to adapt to the Italian race car, and Silverstone was another chapter in a familiar story.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 July 2025
Noun
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Once the cast gained confidence — whether in the idiom, or in improv itself — the next challenge was, ironically, holding back.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
9 June 2025
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This eight-week class, with lessons on English grammar, pronunciation and idioms, is for adult (18 years and older) intermediate and advanced English learners who can have a conversation in English but want to improve their pronunciation and comprehension.—
Jake Richardson,
Mercury News,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Even casual users should take a moment to review their settings and chat history to make sure personal details aren’t being shared without their knowledge.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
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Jim noted that the casual dining chain’s stock has come down a bit since closing at almost $200 in late May.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
30 June 2025
Noun
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And that first Game 7 in finals history, in the parlance of the day, was a humdinger.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
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Sometimes a stock is too popular or, in stock market parlance, it's overbought.—
Carter Braxton Worth,
CNBC,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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The middle class Maitri lives in a gossipy building complex with her mother Shobha (Geeta Agrawal).—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
17 June 2025
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The participants are not just revealing this to strangers who make up the bulk of the show’s viewership, but also, by default, to potentially gossipy friends, neighbors, colleagues and professional acquaintances.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
21 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Colloquial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colloquial. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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