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
What comes next in the nearly two-week conflict will likely dominate a host of bilateral meetings and informal pull-asides with world leaders Trump has lined up at the two-day summit in the Netherlands.
—
Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 24 June 2025
Committees do not make commitments to association vendors and their meetings are informal.
—Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2025
In 2001, Koln, Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach had made an informal agreement not to sign each other’s youth players.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 16 June 2025
In the hallways and informal corners of the convention center, old ideas resurfaced in sharper, more polished form.
—Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for informal
Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 24 June 2025
Committees do not make commitments to association vendors and their meetings are informal.
—Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2025
In 2001, Koln, Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach had made an informal agreement not to sign each other’s youth players.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 16 June 2025
In the hallways and informal corners of the convention center, old ideas resurfaced in sharper, more polished form.
—Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for informal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for informal
Adjective
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The early detection of viral RNA in wild bird droppings, sometimes preceding official poultry outbreaks, suggests that unconventional surveillance in these biologically rich but infrastructurally sparse areas could play a larger role in pandemic risk mitigation.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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Now, in the weeks after its unconventional 22nd anniversary celebration, the label is set to launch one of its biggest — and most personal — compilations yet.—
Britt Julious,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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Twain dared to buck the expectations of critics by using the colloquial dialect and slang of those with little education.—
Kyra Davis Lurie
June 11,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2025
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So what follows is the colloquial Q&A, more or less unedited, from my email exchange with that reporter.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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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
Cite this Entry
“Informal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/informal. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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