UNLITERARY Synonyms: 32 Similar and Opposite Words

unliterary

adjective

ˌən-ˈli-tə-ˌrer-ē

Definition of unliterary

as in colloquial

used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing poems written in a natural, unliterary voice

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unliterary

Adjective

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
Wilson’s translation has come under fire for her decision to render Homeric Greek into a direct, colloquial English.

— Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of colloquial

Adjective

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
Craftsman-style homes, popular between 1905 and 1930, are mainly associated with the bungalows of California, but the Chicago area has its own vernacular examples that share many similarities with the Prairie School and the Arts & Crafts movements.

— Rachel Freundt, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of vernacular

Browse Nearby Words

unlit

unliterary

unlivable

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unliterary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unliterary. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of unliterary

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

recalcitrant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes