as in oral
made or carried on through speaking rather than in writing
an unwritten contract may not be enforceable
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Recent Examples of unwritten
There are two immutable truths that govern the NFL playoffs — unwritten rules that cut through the noise of EPA models and talking-head bluster.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
Is there an unwritten rule about being a bland professional and not showing any personality?
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026
One of the most essential, if unwritten, rules is restraint.
—Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 31 Dec. 2025
At this point, Grant thinks proficiency with AI tools is an unwritten expectation of many employers.
—IEEE Spectrum, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwritten
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
Is there an unwritten rule about being a bland professional and not showing any personality?
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026
One of the most essential, if unwritten, rules is restraint.
—Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 31 Dec. 2025
At this point, Grant thinks proficiency with AI tools is an unwritten expectation of many employers.
—IEEE Spectrum, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwritten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwritten
Adjective
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Garnett, a Biden appointee and former Manhattan federal prosecutor, ruled after hearing oral arguments earlier this month.—
MICHAEL R. SISAK,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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In certain cases, your dermatologist may prescribe low-dose oral minoxidil or dutasteride.—
Caroline C. Boyle,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The incident comes six months after Richardson was arrested and charged with fourth-degree domestic violence assault after a verbal altercation with her boyfriend, fellow runner Christian Coleman, allegedly turned physical.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
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The assignment is to sit there and talk about it in public and possibly embarrass yourself by getting into a verbal confrontation in front of a restaurant of otherwise uninterested bystanders.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Advertisement Dad, on the other hand, was soft-spoken, gentle, empathetic, and accountable.—
John E. Green,
Time,
1 Feb. 2026
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Syrian American rapper and spoken word artist, Omar Offendum, performed last minute at the ball, offering songs about displacement, belonging and identity.—
Mariana Navarrete Villegas,
Hartford Courant,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unwritten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwritten. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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