as in colloquial
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing
poems written in a natural, unliterary voice
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Recent Examples of unliterary
The bond between Alice and the spiky, decidedly unliterary Felix might flummox.
—
New York Times, 1 Sep. 2021
Both were born as writers in public libraries—hyper-bright American Jewish urban boys from unliterary backgrounds, encountering the classics on their own, without too much pre-sorting, responding with delight, imitation, amusement, and familiarity.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2021
New York Times, 1 Sep. 2021
Both were born as writers in public libraries—hyper-bright American Jewish urban boys from unliterary backgrounds, encountering the classics on their own, without too much pre-sorting, responding with delight, imitation, amusement, and familiarity.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unliterary
Adjective
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But unlike the evolution of colloquial language, which is largely arbitrary, the evolution of scientific terms must reflect our current understanding of reality.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
23 Sep. 2025
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In a market where there is a colloquial term for consumers who want their spirits bottled at the highest strength possible (proof hounds), this low-strength whiskey is a bold move.—
Chris Perugini,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Many of the terms are Gen Z and Alpha vernacular influenced by evolving social media trends.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
24 Sep. 2025
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Simulate high-stress scenarios with diverse dialects and vernacular; document any empathy drop-off. 3.—
Tayfun Bilsel,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The venue’s intimacy, coupled with a more informal, speakeasy vibe, permeated an award ceremony that was notable for its moments of laughter and easy congeniality.—
Leila Cobo,
Billboard,
17 Oct. 2025
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The Covid-19 pandemic meant that the research was slow to get off the ground and, more crucially, informal conversations Adamala had with colleagues in other fields, at conferences and other forums, began to sow alarm.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unliterary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unliterary. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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