1
as in unconventional
not rigidly following established form, custom, or rules
an informal meeting allowed everyone to get acquainted
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in casual
not designed to be worn only on special occasions
chose an informal flowery dress
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in colloquial
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing
the use of informal language in a scholarly article is really inappropriate
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of informal
But there was an informal moratorium against using them to edit human embryos.
—
Laura Dattaro, Scientific American, 10 June 2026
The judiciary's system for policing misconduct includes punishment such as informal warnings and public reprimands.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 9 June 2026
Slightly over a mile from the market, perched on the banks of Korle Lagoon, is Old Fadama, an informal settlement where tens of thousands of people live on top of decades of refuse.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 8 June 2026
Smith has also raised concerns about those complaints the commission never sees because internal affairs categorizes them as informal or frivolous.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for informal
Laura Dattaro, Scientific American, 10 June 2026
The judiciary's system for policing misconduct includes punishment such as informal warnings and public reprimands.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 9 June 2026
Slightly over a mile from the market, perched on the banks of Korle Lagoon, is Old Fadama, an informal settlement where tens of thousands of people live on top of decades of refuse.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 8 June 2026
Smith has also raised concerns about those complaints the commission never sees because internal affairs categorizes them as informal or frivolous.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for informal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for informal
Adjective
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The merger chatter has been fueled in part by SpaceX’s unconventional, and some experts say, unprecedented, governance structure.—
Morgan Brennan,Harriet Taylor,
CNBC,
12 June 2026
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Aureus Vita Fibonacci Dry Gin earned its Gold Outstanding medal in one of the competition's most creative categories — a space where producers lean hard on local ingredients and unconventional botanical combinations to stand out.—
Hudson Lindenberger,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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The Fairmont draws a diverse crowd—from business travelers to couples celebrating anniversaries, to casual visitors—creating a lively but laid-back atmosphere.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 June 2026
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Amenities include Sunset Beach with complimentary chairs and umbrellas for guests and the new Captiva Landing water playground with waterslides, a lazy river, arcade, and casual restaurant.—
Allison Tibaldi,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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Its name refers to the colloquial term once used for Papaya—paw-paw.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
30 May 2026
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The Solons name refers to an ancient Greek lawmaker, whose name later became a colloquial term for wise legislators, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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That’s for sure when people speak patois, a vernacular version of English that’s based on a culture’s intonation.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
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In Nepal, Meti is a vernacular social category for people assigned male at birth who live and present in feminine ways.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Informal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/informal. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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