as in learned
suggestive of the vocabulary used in books
the novel's dialogue is a little too literary in flavor to be entirely convincing
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Recent Examples of literary
Liberatum, founded in 2001, positions the honor as both a tribute to Rushdie’s literary legacy and a public statement on freedom of expression.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
29 June 2026
In the following decades, lower courts invalidated classes as violating the establishment clause if the subject matter promoted Christianity – teaching it as religious truth rather than discussing the Bible’s literary and historical qualities.
—
Charles J. Russo,
The Conversation,
29 June 2026
In other instances, when people have remarked on his literary leanings, Brooks has demurred.
—
Adrienne Lafrance,
The Atlantic,
28 June 2026
In 2022, Rushdie was on stage at a literary event — a setup not too dissimilar from this evening at the Porto Colloseum — when he was stabbed 15 times by a then 25-year-old man named Hadi Matar.
—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for literary
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
29 June 2026
In the following decades, lower courts invalidated classes as violating the establishment clause if the subject matter promoted Christianity – teaching it as religious truth rather than discussing the Bible’s literary and historical qualities.
—
Charles J. Russo,
The Conversation,
29 June 2026
In other instances, when people have remarked on his literary leanings, Brooks has demurred.
—
Adrienne Lafrance,
The Atlantic,
28 June 2026
In 2022, Rushdie was on stage at a literary event — a setup not too dissimilar from this evening at the Porto Colloseum — when he was stabbed 15 times by a then 25-year-old man named Hadi Matar.
—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for literary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literary
Adjective
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What made the incident even more striking was that most of Audubon Zoo’s sleepy lizards were bred in captivity, implying the reaction was an innate response instead of learned behavior.
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This kind of trading is seen as a form of learned behavior, where dogs associate a specific action with a reward.
Adjective
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The economy was shifting from industrial to intellectual — knowledge workers wanted meaning, autonomy, and vision.
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Over time, some worry, the next generation of mathematicians may suffer from a form of intellectual atrophy, unable to think outside the AI box that trained them.
Adjective
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Priya Bhardwaj does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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Students credit Burgess with helping shape not only their academic growth but also their confidence and character.
Adjective
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Daeron Targaryen Daeron Targaryen, otherwise known as Daeron the Drunkard, is a bookish and melancholy Targaryen prince known for his prophetic dreams.
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The novel follows Harriet Bancroft, a bookish wallflower compiling a dictionary of slang.
Adjective
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The Union’s move is a small reversal of a decades-long trend away from scholastic sports as a soccer development tool.
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Her work — rooted in teaching, scholastic research and mentoring — is continually focused on advancing social, racial and economic equity in secondary education classrooms.
Adjective
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Original host Dave Garroway was an erudite guide who shaped the mix of news, lifestyle and human interest stories that still define morning news programs.
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The work of the reclusive, forbiddingly erudite author turns out to be perfect easy-listening material.
Cite this Entry
“Literary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/literary. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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