unidiomatic

adjective

Definition of unidiomaticnext
as in ungrammatical

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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 unidiomatic When Vance does address specifically Catholic subject matter, his language is in some cases awkward and in almost all curiously unidiomatic. — Matthew Walther, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unidiomatic
  1. ungrammatical
  2. illiterate
  3. substandard
Adjective
  • The notes were vintage O’Keeffe—brief, vivid, enlightening, and, yes, often ungrammatical, but brilliantly so.
    — Calvin Tomkins, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025
  • But if language exemplifies the human capacity for internalizing grammatical conventions, then my moment of rule-breaking does not in fact expose some ungrammatical first nature.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
Definition of ungrammatical
Adjective
  • Coming from a village in a southern province, illiterate, and speaking only local dialect, women like her come to Beijing to live with their sons and daughters.
    — Jonathan Flint, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In the Pale of Settlement, it was often looked down on as a language of women, children and the illiterate.
    — Ilan Stavans, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of illiterate
Adjective
  • The Dolphins, resting their talent-needy starting defense, fought with backups that will provide substandard depth this season.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Young detainees have described inedible food, substandard medical care and callous treatment at the hands of guards and staff at immigration facilities.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of substandard

Browse Nearby Words

unidentified
unidiomatic
unification
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Cite this Entry

“Unidiomatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unidiomatic. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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