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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of 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
The terms used above are colloquial in nature and don’t have well established business definitions.
—Mark Settle, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
The region’s colloquial exclamation alamak, which is used to convey surprise and dismay, is also included in the list, though its exact origin is uncertain.
—Peter Guo, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Noun
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
The terms used above are colloquial in nature and don’t have well established business definitions.
—Mark Settle, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
The region’s colloquial exclamation alamak, which is used to convey surprise and dismay, is also included in the list, though its exact origin is uncertain.
—Peter Guo, NBC news, 27 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
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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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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
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The partnership was a crash course for them both: an informal academy with a class roster of two.—
Josh Rottenberg,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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The skills that prepare a child to read begin developing in utero, as a baby listens to the familiar voices around them and begins to develop connections between sounds and the meanings of words in their home language.—
Jenny Gold,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2025
-
The legal battle between these parties has become a familiar topic in sports law.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
24 June 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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Will some casual fans who used to flip on a game at random drop off?—
Alex Sherman,
CNBC,
19 June 2025
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Pair it with sneakers, sandals, flats, and more for a casual yet stylish everyday look.—
Clara McMahon,
People.com,
19 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 3 Jul. 2025.
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