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
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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
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Recent Examples of scrivener
Dillon argued that what Smith did was a scrivener’s error and doesn’t rise to the level of fraud.
—
Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
But in Doerfler’s estimation, the absence of a deportation order in Abrego Garcia’s case is no scrivener’s error.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025
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
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
Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
But in Doerfler’s estimation, the absence of a deportation order in Abrego Garcia’s case is no scrivener’s error.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scrivener
Noun
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Over the years, writers from around the world have tried their hands at using soccer as a backdrop for memorable fiction.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
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Staff writer Jeff Horseman contributed to this report.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Noun
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These are workflows where a scribe creates real risk and the ROI on operator-level architecture is clearest.—
Raju Malhotra,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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In one large analysis of AI scribes at The Permanente Medical Group, clinicians saved the equivalent of nearly 16,000 hours of documentation time in one year — roughly 1,800 workdays — and reported improved satisfaction and patient interactions.—
Windsor Johnston,
NPR,
26 May 2026
Noun
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The author’s name was never part of it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
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Yuval Noah Harari, the historian and author, wrote in the Financial Times that these entities would seemingly be granted traditional human rights, like being able to own assets, hire employees, trade, sue, and donate, with decisions made by AI agents and without human liability.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
Noun
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Much later, when Lamarck was old and blind, this Rosalie would be his amanuensis, reading to him, conducting research for him, and even writing for him.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Scrivener.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scrivener. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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