unwritten

adjective

ˌən-ˈri-tᵊn How to pronounce unwritten (audio)
Definition of unwrittennext
as in oral
made or carried on through speaking rather than in writing an unwritten contract may not be enforceable

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 unwritten As terrifying as an unwritten future can be, there’s something equally scary about certainty. — Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026 Rangers famously had an unwritten policy against signing Catholic players, which was smashed in 1989 when former Celtic striker Mo Johnston joined from French club Nantes. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026 That smacks of an unwritten tax on trade, widening the competitiveness gap between local firms and global peers. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2026 The skill of operating in your organization’s context is far harder to replace or teach – the know-how that makes someone effective in your culture, with your systems, your routines, your unwritten rules. — Ravin Jesuthasan, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unwritten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwritten
  1. oral
  2. verbal
  3. spoken
Adjective
  • At the center of the new trial hearing was an oral agreement between Anthony’s original defense attorneys and prosecutors to keep potentially damaging character evidence involving both sides from reaching the jury.
    — Greg Wehner , Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Beyond removing the psychological and practical barrier of injections, oral formulations are not reliant on syringes or refrigeration and are cheaper to manufacture.
    — Perdita Nouril, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of oral
Adjective
  • In its breathless finale, Curry races through the mansion reconstructing every murder, flinging himself through doors and corridors while maintaining the verbal precision of a stage actor performing at double speed.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • During a verbal exchange with Sky guard Natasha Cloud in the third quarter, Kanter Freedom stepped over photographers to encroach on the baseline during a dead ball.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of verbal
Adjective
  • Donalds’ spoken acceptance of the inevitability of massive data centers, and their support for his candidacy, is one of his biggest political liabilities.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
  • That experience in the mid-1990s sent the soft-spoken Rousseau, who had spent his career in public policy, on a quest to review the county’s education system and political power structure.
    — Tamar Hallerman, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of spoken

Browse Nearby Words

unwrinkled
unwritten
unyielding
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unwritten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwritten. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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