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
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Recent Examples of colloquial
Chris Perugini, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Mays brought the quality of Elegba’s duality to life with impeccable, almost intuitive range, dancing from whimsical embodiment to archival vernacular to colloquial ease with incredible intention and timing.
—Essence, 17 Sep. 2025
This isn’t about a desire for simpler, colloquial language.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Gilbert’s colloquial style, once a source of great pleasure, has tipped into new territory—an ingenuousness that blends guru and disciple, mother and child.
—Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Adjective
In a market where there is a colloquial term for consumers who want their spirits bottled at the highest strength possible (proof hounds), this low-strength whiskey is a bold move.
—Chris Perugini, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Mays brought the quality of Elegba’s duality to life with impeccable, almost intuitive range, dancing from whimsical embodiment to archival vernacular to colloquial ease with incredible intention and timing.
—Essence, 17 Sep. 2025
This isn’t about a desire for simpler, colloquial language.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Gilbert’s colloquial style, once a source of great pleasure, has tipped into new territory—an ingenuousness that blends guru and disciple, mother and child.
—Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colloquial
Adjective
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The Upside Down, a dark, gooey parallel universe of Hawkins, and its predatory demogorgons became part of their middle school vernacular.—
Lorraine Ali,
Boston Herald,
30 Nov. 2025
-
In vernacular languages up to the early modern period in Europe, cognates of conversatio often conveyed a sense of physical closeness: gathering or dwelling together.—
Lamorna Ash,
The Dial,
25 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The cabin also features the AFEELA Personal Agent, an interactive conversational AI leveraging Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service to deliver personalized dialogue experiences.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Jan. 2026
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Chatbots are designed to be cooperative and conversational.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Gestures, colloquialisms, facial expressions, local cuisine, and the like are not incidental to a tongue but constitute it; sometimes, to capture a word or phrase, in writing or in an algorithm, is to stamp out its meaning.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
16 Oct. 2025
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What started out as an advertising slogan for Apple more than 15 years ago has morphed into somewhat of a modern day colloquialism: There should be an app for that.—
Katherine Fung,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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During the 2020 cycle, disinformation targeting Black voters has been spreading through informal channels on social media, according to a report by NBC News.—
David Smiley,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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The informal meeting represents the first layer in the appeals process the district is entitled to avail itself of, Lecholop said.—
Silas Allen,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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With spoofing tools, criminals can mimic real bank phone numbers and even use AI to reproduce familiar voices.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The common ingredients are incredible storytellers who are excited about trying to make a series that feels authentic and realistic, and maybe feels familiar, but in a way that also feels elevated and sophisticated.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Though the idiom of abuse has changed, the critics are as hostile as ever, while their targets react only with curious torpor.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
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Music unites the interconnecting stories in this saga and expands its passions, with a sumptuous score by composer Stephen Flaherty and lyricist Lynn Ahrens that taps into a wide range of American styles, idioms and amalgams, even as the second act turns more dissonant.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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For many young women, the stiletto’s discomfort is part of the appeal, offering proof that effort and glamor remain in an age of casual sneakers.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Simple yet polished, the Anrabess Long Sleeve Midi Dress is perfect for a casual Thanksgiving feast or a fall day out on the town.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Their online parlance is punctuated by empty enthusiasms, vicious aspersions, and obvious hypocrisies that rarely matter.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Oct. 2025
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Losers, to use the parlance of Burgum’s boss, are parks like Knife River Indian Villages, a national historic site in the secretary’s home state of North Dakota.—
Gloria Liu,
Outside Online,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Colloquial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colloquial. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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