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unbookish

adjective

ˌən-ˈbu̇-kish How to pronounce unbookish (audio)
Definition of unbookishnext
as in colloquial
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing a refreshingly unbookish talk on how dictionaries get made

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unbookish
  1. colloquial
  2. vernacular
  3. informal
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
  • That calculation can reveal a sizable amount of informal self-insurance that never received the same planning, funding or governance as other financial obligations.
    — Randy Sadler, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Around 400 former students and leading industry professionals made the trek from Paris for a day of conferences and informal gatherings.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of informal
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.

Browse Nearby Words

unbolts
unbookish
unborn
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Cite this Entry

“Unbookish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unbookish. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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