unidiomatic

adjective

Definition of unidiomaticnext
as in ungrammatical

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 unidiomatic When Vance does address specifically Catholic subject matter, his language is in some cases awkward and in almost all curiously unidiomatic. — Matthew Walther, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unidiomatic
  1. ungrammatical
  2. illiterate
  3. substandard
Adjective
  • The notes were vintage O’Keeffe—brief, vivid, enlightening, and, yes, often ungrammatical, but brilliantly so.
    — Calvin Tomkins, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025
  • But if language exemplifies the human capacity for internalizing grammatical conventions, then my moment of rule-breaking does not in fact expose some ungrammatical first nature.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
Definition of ungrammatical
Adjective
  • Those who are illiterate, above the age of 70, and between 16 and 18 years of age may choose whether to exercise their right.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
  • As a peripheral community grows around them, this lawless terrain is suddenly subject to boundaries and contracts and taxes; both uneducated and illiterate, Isak and Inger are ill prepared for such societal evolution.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of illiterate
Adjective
  • Baylor has been elite at everything TCU has been substandard in.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Many structures are built with substandard materials and safety regulations are frequently ignored to reduce costs.
    — Riaz Khan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of substandard

Browse Nearby Words

unidentified
unidiomatic
unification
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unidiomatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unidiomatic. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

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

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All