unwritten

adjective

ˌən-ˈri-tᵊn How to pronounce unwritten (audio)
Definition of unwrittennext
as in oral
made or carried on through speaking rather than in writing an unwritten contract may not be enforceable

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 unwritten Being Considerate There are a host of unwritten rules in Japan that travelers should be cognizant of. — Catherine Heald, Travel + Leisure, 22 June 2026 For Clark, this unwritten rule has been on full display as her teammates have shown a willingness to physically stand up for her during heated exchanges and her coaches have advocated for more consistent foul calls. — Lindsey Darvin, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Until the twentieth century, Ostrander and Rider write, presidents observed an unwritten rule against international travel. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 16 June 2026 An unwritten rule reserving membership for liberal democracies keeps authoritarian China out, even as its trade surplus, rare minerals, military buildup and huge carbon footprint dominate the summit’s agenda. — John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unwritten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwritten
  1. oral
  2. verbal
  3. spoken
Adjective
  • Cyclosporiasis is treated with the oral antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), commonly sold as Bactrim, Septra and Cotrim, taken for 10 days, according to the CDC.
    — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 6 July 2026
  • What matters more right now is staying on top of the same oral microbiome research shaping how experts think about whole-mouth health today.
    — Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of oral
Adjective
  • Ro said interactive chatbots have technological hurdles to overcome, such as a mismatch between their verbal comments and their facial expressions.
    — Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • According to the preliminary investigation, a woman and Diguglielmo got into a verbal fight over a parking space, BSO said.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
Definition of verbal
Adjective
  • The abbreviation dates to the early 20th century, and the spelling emcee emerged as the spoken form became a standalone noun and verb, meaning to host or present an event.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • He’s been nominated for an Academy Award (for his role in Hotel Rwanda) and numerous Emmys, and has won two Grammys (for the soundtrack to his Miles Davis biopic Miles Ahead, and for a spoken-word album).
    — Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2026
Definition of spoken

Browse Nearby Words

unwrinkled
unwritten
unyielding
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Cite this Entry

“Unwritten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwritten. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on unwritten

Nglish: Translation of unwritten for Spanish Speakers

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