1
as in vernacular
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing
the new coworker's rudeness soon began—to use a colloquial expression—to rub me the wrong way
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in conversational
having the style and content of everyday conversation
a colloquial essay on what makes a marriage successful
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in colloquialism
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of colloquial
Bayliss Wagner, Austin American-Statesman, 18 Dec. 2024
The variance between the two is sizeable, necessitating the need to distinguish one from the other and combat the colloquial shorthand traditionally used to conjure one with the other.
—Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
These posts range from theological breakdowns to translating scriptures in colloquial GenZ language, visualizing Bible stories through AI technologies, and customizing bible covers.
—Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
While Birnbaum’s playful take on Murakami’s prose established the hip, colloquial style the author is still mostly known for today, his translation of Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World cut about 100 pages from the Japanese text.
—Bailey Trela, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Adjective
From 1948 to 1972, Waugh served as an Army paratrooper and Green Beret, the colloquial name for Special Forces soldiers.
—Bayliss Wagner, Austin American-Statesman, 18 Dec. 2024
The variance between the two is sizeable, necessitating the need to distinguish one from the other and combat the colloquial shorthand traditionally used to conjure one with the other.
—Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
These posts range from theological breakdowns to translating scriptures in colloquial GenZ language, visualizing Bible stories through AI technologies, and customizing bible covers.
—Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
While Birnbaum’s playful take on Murakami’s prose established the hip, colloquial style the author is still mostly known for today, his translation of Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World cut about 100 pages from the Japanese text.
—Bailey Trela, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for colloquial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colloquial
Adjective
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Most people outside of Gen Alpha’s inner circles and vernacular likely won’t.—
Gilda D'Incerti,
Forbes,
2 Jan. 2025
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While the brand has collaborated with everyone from Sacai and Undercover to Bulgari, Rimowa and most recently, Ugg, Ahn wanted the book to focus on its own aesthetic — perhaps also to remind industry observers of the origin of some ideas that have since entered the fashion vernacular.—
Joelle Diderich,
WWD,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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You would be forgiven for assuming this a playful colloquialism, perhaps revealing a tenderness to the hunt.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
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Black communities are usually at the creative vanguard, from Renaissance art movements to fashion and even colloquialisms.—
Jasmine Browley,
Essence,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This could range from formal presentations to informal conversations, emails or even social media within the company, depending on your audience and the nature of your message.—
Heather V. MacArthur,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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Wood floors, woven baskets, and breezy curtains introduce informal textures to the lush blend.—
Emily Williams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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And the reopened Frick, with its familiar art back in place and some significant new features added — notably an entire second floor of family rooms repurposed as intimate galleries — feels organic in that way.—
Holland Cotter,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2025
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Sanchez went on to deliver his familiar mixed bag of erratic distribution and impressive saves at the Emirates Stadium.—
Liam Twomey,
The Athletic,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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There is a French idiom that says when something is so easy, it can be done with ‘les doigts dans le nez’ — the fingers in the nose.—
Liam Tharme,
The Athletic,
23 Jan. 2025
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While often used sarcastically to mock true believers, the idiom reflects Italy’s enduring ambiguity toward Fascism, even 80 years after its fall.—
Mattia Ferraresi,
airmail.news,
1 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Another element she’s borrowed from Prince is a sense of casual virtuosity.—
Stephen Thomas Erlewine,
Rolling Stone,
15 Mar. 2025
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Compensatory picks, while typically lower rounds are definitely underrated by the casual fan.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The parlance for this technique is that it is considered autoregressive.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
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In policy parlance, a put would imply that Trump would try to stop market selling at some point.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Tom Hollander stars as Truman Capote, who manages to scandalize the entire Manhattan social scene by writing a viciously gossipy novel about them.—
Katie Rife,
EW.com,
2 Mar. 2025
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The four movies do not feel like traditional Oscar favorites, though A Complete Unknown (a music biopic about Bob Dylan) and Conclave (a gossipy drama about the selection of a new pope) come closest.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to colloquial
Cite this Entry
“Colloquial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colloquial. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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