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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
Adjective
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
-
Coaches and deans and ADs weren’t amending their vernacular to avoid offending kids.—
Dawn Staley,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
-
Mamet emphasizes the vernacular like a theatrical soothsayer while Zahler visualizes violence to clarify circumstance and character.—
Armond White,
National Review,
14 May 2025
Noun
-
This could involve helping systems learn colloquialisms and proper usages of terms.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Mar. 2025
-
You would be forgiven for assuming this a playful colloquialism, perhaps revealing a tenderness to the hunt.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
There have been informal talks between the clubs, but Newcastle, who are keen to avoid paying inflated fees, have alternative options.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
13 June 2025
-
Poor areas with informal housing were the worst affected, government officials said.—
Gerald Imray,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
This incremental model allows firms to evolve while maintaining familiar strategies.—
Seth Price,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
-
Pritzker and Emanuel are nationally familiar names.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
24 June 2025
Noun
-
Unleashing Wood has ushered in an exciting new phase for a widely influential band that has defined a state-of-the-art jazz idiom deeply engaged with other genres.—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
23 May 2025
-
Scientists analyzed recordings of three groups of chimpanzees living in the Ivory Coast and found that chimps can combine their hoots, grunts and calls in a similar way to how humans use idioms or change the order of words to build new phrases.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
11 May 2025
Adjective
-
Will some casual fans who used to flip on a game at random drop off?—
Alex Sherman,
CNBC,
19 June 2025
-
Reservations are required for both the casual tasting and the picnic table.—
Katie Sweeney,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
Noun
-
The lastest person to turn her head, in Love Island parlance?—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
13 June 2025
-
Most recently, Redburn Atlantic slashed its rating on McDonald’s to a sell from buy — known as a double downgrade in Wall Street parlance — and lowered its price target to $260 a share from $319, implying a downside of nearly 15% from Monday’s close.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
The middle class Maitri lives in a gossipy building complex with her mother Shobha (Geeta Agrawal).—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
17 June 2025
-
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 27 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share