NONLITERARY Synonyms: 32 Similar and Opposite Words

nonliterary

adjective

ˌnän-ˈli-tə-ˌrer-ē

Definition of nonliterary

as in colloquial

used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing slang words are usually considered nonliterary

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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 nonliterary Most of the people on this list worked nonliterary jobs before becoming a successful writer. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonliterary

Adjective

Silent sleep apnea is a colloquial term for the form of the condition that occurs without the loud, disruptive snoring most people associate with it.

— Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026
Wilson’s translation has come under fire for her decision to render Homeric Greek into a direct, colloquial English.

— Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of colloquial

Adjective

On the one hand, there’s a fascination with collective joy and the forms of vernacular invention that aspire to it; on the other, there’s an underlying melancholy that points to the inevitability of isolation, an epistemology of loneliness.

— Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Undaunted, the couple embarked on a renovation, working with a local builder and an architect who understood the rustic vernacular architecture associated with Glacier National Park.

— Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of vernacular

Adjective

Language in your next lease renewal covering accent walls, hardware swaps or pre-move-out inspections, a signal that landlords are formalizing what has been an informal negotiation.

— Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2026
In a joint statement issued Tuesday, the Consultative Shipping Group (CSG) — an informal cooperation between the maritime bodies of 18 shipping nations across the globe — noted that more than 80% of global trade is transported by sea.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of informal

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nonliteral

nonliterary

nonliterate

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“Nonliterary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonliterary. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of nonliterary

adjective

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