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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of colloquial
Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
The realism, though, comes in the particularity of the Spanish dialogue, the cultural exchanges, and colloquial understandings that run through this community — and from Mexico to the United States.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Adjective
Cicada’s disappearing routine Scientists who hunt for unusual Covid-19 variants waited to give this one a colloquial, or common, name.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
The realism, though, comes in the particularity of the Spanish dialogue, the cultural exchanges, and colloquial understandings that run through this community — and from Mexico to the United States.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colloquial
Adjective
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The sound of motorbikes and cars fade as birds take over with their harmonies all around Nai Lert’s Thai vernacular style all-teak vacation home, built in 1915.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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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
Adjective
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Recorded at Glendale’s UHF Studio, Davis worked closely with producer-bassist Dan Horne and guitarist John Lee Shannon, inaugurating a new songwriting partnership—one that trades the solitary melancholia of her earlier albums for something more open-ended and conversational.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
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Participatory Journalism Here, facilitated by technological advances and participatory culture, journalists are seen to move from a hierarchical model of information disseminators to a more horizontal model based on audience participation and conversational modes of communication.—
Daniel Jackson,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The exhibit’s title is derived from a Spanish colloquialism.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
13 Feb. 2026
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Ways to learn a new language Apps are a good way to learn the basics and proper pronunciation, but many colloquialisms, abbreviations and grammatically informal expressions used by fluent or native speakers aren’t taught on apps or in language classes.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In the early 1980s, Murphy and a few associates ran an informal back channel between the United States and the Soviet Union.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
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For households where one member frequently travels or serves in demanding roles, the app offers a way to pass along knowledge that might otherwise remain informal.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez is a lead contender to replace Morales, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
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This takes the Hylian magic of Nintendo’s long-running RPG game and brings it to the modern gamer in ways both familiar and unique.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Buildings—a contemporary, fluid interpretation of the Cretan idiom by Pieris.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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Like the idiom, their coffee shop hopes to bring surprising offerings to the coffee scene.—
Jenna Thompson
April 22,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Nick Jonas has a casual yet stylish vibe in a leather jacket, hoodie and baseball cap in New York City on April 23.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
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Wetjen was out at Stone Creek Golf Club near Iowa’s campus, playing a casual round with his girlfriend, Rachel Bierman, and friends when the moment hit.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In film parlance, this would be a spoiler.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Or in Cowboys parlance, think Darren Woodson.—
Bill Jones,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colloquial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colloquial. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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