as in colloquial
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing
slang words are usually considered nonliterary
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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
René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonliterary
Adjective
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Its name refers to the colloquial term once used for Papaya—paw-paw.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
30 May 2026
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The Solons name refers to an ancient Greek lawmaker, whose name later became a colloquial term for wise legislators, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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Or like Dante’s Divine Comedy, which was called that because it was written in the vernacular, not Latin, and which uses the structure of the Christian voyage of the soul to navigate a mid-life crisis.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
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The sound of motorbikes and cars fade as birds take over with their harmonies all around Nai Lert’s Thai vernacular style all-teak vacation home, built in 1915.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The largely informal opposition had consisted mainly of local cities that warned another sales tax would disproportionately burden the poorest residents and force shoppers across the county border in hopes of finding lower costs.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
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An informal settlement is a residential area where housing units have been constructed without official rights to the land.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nonliterary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonliterary. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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