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
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Adjective
Gnat isn't a scientific term so much as a colloquial one.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colloquial
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
The exhibit’s title is derived from a Spanish colloquialism.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
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
-
The pair of town hall meetings hosted by law firms operating under the name PFAS Georgia turned out nearly 1,000 people and served as an informal campaign stop for about a dozen political candidates — a nod to the grassroots outrage over the topic.—
DYLAN JACKSON,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
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If that window closes without agreement, an informal arbitration process commences — conducted under WGA auspices, conducted by phone, and conducted fast.—
George Heller,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Many of the precautions a traveler could take are similar to those that became familiar at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Details about the underlying allegation remain murky, but the department sources familiar with the matter said the LAPD’s secretive Special Operations Division tailed officers who were under investigation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Buildings—a contemporary, fluid interpretation of the Cretan idiom by Pieris.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
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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But the brand became the foundation for a global retail empire and reshaped American fashion with a focus on simple casual looks from khakis and jeans to T-shirts and sweater sets.—
Anne D'Innocenzio,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
-
Lluritu is a modern, casual seafood bar that's quickly becoming a favorite in the neighborhood of Gràcia.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
The decision singled out these compounders, which are known as 503B facilities in regulatory parlance, after growing controversy over their role in making weight loss treatments available over the past few years.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In film parlance, this would be a spoiler.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colloquial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colloquial. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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