literary

adjective

ˈli-tə-ˌrer-ē How to pronounce literary (audio)
Definition of literarynext
as in learned
suggestive of the vocabulary used in books the novel's dialogue is a little too literary in flavor to be entirely convincing

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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 literary This literary tool adds elements of the fantastical in otherwise ordinary, realistic settings. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026 The protagonist of this engrossing novel, Sophie, begins the story freshly separated, broke, and working on the production crew of a local literary festival. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 Harbach spent a decade writing it; it was turned down by umpteen literary gatekeepers; eventually, one plucky young agent took a chance on it, and a bidding war ensued. — Malcolm Forbes, Christian Science Monitor, 26 Oct. 2026 With Patti Smith next on her literary agenda today, Dua Lipa’s fashionable book tour continues. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for literary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literary
  1. intellectual
  2. academic
  3. bookish
  4. scholastic
  5. erudite
Adjective
  • Walzer thought the matter through aloud with me, at one point letting out a small chuckle at his intellectual perplexity.
    — Jordi Graupera, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The 500-piece collection reflects the Black writers who have shaped her intellectual and artistic growth.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of intellectual
Adjective
  • The Brookings paper makes the same argument in academic terms.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Nancy’s British father, Gerald Cadogan, is an academic and archaeologist, and much of her childhood was spent on excavation sites in Cyprus and Crete.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of academic
Adjective
  • Celebrities were feeling bookish at Sunday’s Valentino show, as Alessandro Michele’s latest fashion week guest list arrived at the library.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 2026
  • In the midst of the festivities, among a crowd of bookish faculty and graduate students, Annie and Wendy convinced an overheated newspaper photographer who’d been sent to cover the event to abandon his turtleneck.
    — Robert P. Baird, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of bookish
Adjective
  • The coming-of-age drama, based on Coffey’s life, follows a high school student with mild cerebral palsy trying to wrestle for the school’s scholastic wrestling team.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The district boasts 15 elementary schools — among them a regional gifted center, one scholastic academy and two Montessori schools.
    — Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of scholastic
Adjective
  • Among them was Maria Edgeworth, an erudite woman who helped shape how the emerging field of economics reached the wider world.
    — Julia R. Cartwright, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In depicting the highs and lows of a fictional presidential administration — that of erudite, strong-willed Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen) — Aaron Sorkin’s series pulled in millions of viewers and plenty of awards, including 26 Primetime Emmys.
    — Madeline Boardman, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of erudite

Browse Nearby Words

literalness
literary
literate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Literary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/literary. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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