writerly

adjective

writ·​er·​ly ˈrī-tər-lē How to pronounce writerly (audio)
: of, relating to, or typical of a writer

Examples of writerly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
McKenzie courts for Substack such writerly talents as Bill Bishop, Matthew Yglesias, and Bari Weiss, whose publication The Free Press remains among the most popular and best-earning offerings on the platform. — Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 Success came fast for the artist whose writerly lyrics and DIY ethos resonated in a world where authenticity is at a premium. — Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026 Thanks to the shrinking publishing industry and dwindling writerly job market, the internet is rife with smart freelance editors, rigorous copy editors, and award-winning authors moonlighting as book doulas. — Keziah Weir, Vanity Fair, 13 Aug. 2026 But the novel rarely achieves this level of synergy between theme, plot and writerly technique. — Literary Hub, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for writerly

Word History

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of writerly was in 1957

Browse Nearby Words

writer's cramp
writerly
writership
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Writerly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/writerly. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on writerly

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about writerly

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