1
as in writer
a person who creates a written work
the roomful of unsung scriveners that it takes to churn out a weekly sitcom
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in scribe
one who writes from dictation or copies manuscripts
the details of the contract were worked out by a lawyer, I being involved with it merely as a scrivener
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 scrivener
Zach Thomas Woods infuses zany comic energy into Edgar, a young Scottish lawyer and scrivener (a copier of documents), sternly religious but desperately horny and infatuated with Ruth.
—
Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2023
The name of the candidate omitted in the Voter Guide is highlighted in red to emphasize the scrivener’s error.
—chicagotribune.com, 25 Mar. 2021
Her narrator’s final gesture, transforming herself into a piece of half-living art, echoes the odd and combative passivity of Herman Melville’s Bartleby, a scrivener who suddenly, inexplicably, refuses to perform his duties.
—Alexandra Kleeman, Vanities, 2 July 2018
But the scrivener simply repeated the same five words, with no explanation for his conduct.
—The Economist, 26 May 2018
In the short story by Herman Melville from which our new column takes its name, Bartleby was a scrivener—a dying art, nowadays.
—The Economist, 26 May 2018
In 1727, when Benjamin Franklin was twenty-one, he and a few friends—among them a scrivener, a joiner, and two cobblers—formed a conversation club called the Junto.
—Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2014
Almost always, Shakespeare’s plays become mirrors when held up to the moments in which they are produced; Ralph Crane the scrivener was only the first among many annotators.
—Cynthia Zarin, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2017
The difference between a merchant’s handwriting and a scrivener’s is clear enough, the one scrawled and bold, the other neat and careful.
—Tim Parks, New York Times, 11 May 2016
Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2023
The name of the candidate omitted in the Voter Guide is highlighted in red to emphasize the scrivener’s error.
—chicagotribune.com, 25 Mar. 2021
Her narrator’s final gesture, transforming herself into a piece of half-living art, echoes the odd and combative passivity of Herman Melville’s Bartleby, a scrivener who suddenly, inexplicably, refuses to perform his duties.
—Alexandra Kleeman, Vanities, 2 July 2018
But the scrivener simply repeated the same five words, with no explanation for his conduct.
—The Economist, 26 May 2018
In the short story by Herman Melville from which our new column takes its name, Bartleby was a scrivener—a dying art, nowadays.
—The Economist, 26 May 2018
In 1727, when Benjamin Franklin was twenty-one, he and a few friends—among them a scrivener, a joiner, and two cobblers—formed a conversation club called the Junto.
—Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2014
Almost always, Shakespeare’s plays become mirrors when held up to the moments in which they are produced; Ralph Crane the scrivener was only the first among many annotators.
—Cynthia Zarin, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2017
The difference between a merchant’s handwriting and a scrivener’s is clear enough, the one scrawled and bold, the other neat and careful.
—Tim Parks, New York Times, 11 May 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrivener
Noun
-
The series is produced by RCN Estudios, with a writers' room featuring Marta Betoldi (Ciega a Citas), César Betancur (Rigo), and Luis Carlos Ávila (La Reina del Flow).—
Veronica Villafañe,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
-
The Laguna Beach estate of the prolific TV writer, director, and producer has popped up for sale, with an asking price of $20 million.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
Oscar-winning writer Diablo Cody and Madonna finished work on their version of the screenplay in 2021, with the Juno scribe departing the film to work on other projects after that.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
28 July 2025
-
Deal was brokered by UTA, which reps the author along with Curtis Brown Australia, and reps the scribes with Kaplan/Perrone and Jamie Feldman.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
24 July 2025
Noun
-
From the photo of herself as an adolescent on the cover to the numerous parallels between the biographies of character and author, Ullmann invites her readers to interpret these texts as based on life.—
Nadja Spiegelman,
New York Times,
23 July 2025
-
Alice Randall, a renowned country songwriter and author, recently discussed the deep connection between country music and Black history at Fisk University.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
The Tennessean,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
Groff, the three-time National Book Award finalist and best-selling author, wrote the libretto with Doraiswamy and served as a kind of amanuensis to the production.—
Laura van Straaten,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
-
The journalist’s tone was snarky, but there were some direct quotes from my father’s amanuenses.—
Sage Mehta,
The New Yorker,
7 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Scrivener.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrivener. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share