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

The colloquial names are fun, but can be confusing, because there’s also a plant called brown-eyed Susan, which is different from the black-eyed Susan.

— Sheryl DeVore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
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

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

Despite its informal format, the encounter carries considerable symbolic significance after decades of strained relations between Washington and Caracas.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
College football kickers have started communicating with each other through informal group chats and social media to negotiate contracts, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 20 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 25 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of nonliterary

adjective

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