nonliterary

adjective

ˌnän-ˈli-tə-ˌrer-ē How to pronounce nonliterary (audio)
Definition of nonliterarynext
as in colloquial
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing slang words are usually considered nonliterary

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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
  1. colloquial
  2. vernacular
  3. informal
Adjective
  • Each book had anywhere from 20 to 50, even 75, contributors, who wrote in a warm, colloquial style.
    — Jennifer Rich, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026
  • That’s the colloquial name for the Salkin House, an 1,100-square-foot dwelling perched on a hillside lot, built for violist Jules Salkin in 1948 by John Lautner, the famed midcentury modern architect.
    — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of colloquial
Adjective
  • The vernacular poets call it hearpe or harpa, among other names; cithara in Latin.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
  • For me, a poster, in a Native context, is something that communicates a message through typography, visual language or vernacular language, and is intended to be publicly shown or expressed.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of vernacular
Adjective
  • Youth unemployment stands at about 23% and a large majority of those who do have a job work in the informal sector.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Just this week, some Massachusetts senators voted in an informal session to advance a bill that would put a stop to springing forward and falling back.
    — Amanda Callahan, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of informal

Browse Nearby Words

nonliteral
nonliterary
nonliterate
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Cite this Entry

“Nonliterary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonliterary. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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