as in literary
suggestive of the vocabulary used in books
"fealty" is a bookish synonym for "loyalty"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 bookish
Your teen can turn to these bookish gifts year round to get lost in their favorite novel.
—
Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025
The comedy-drama, written by Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, follows Lorelai and her bookish daughter Rory (Bledel) in the quirky, charming small town of Stars Hollow, Conn.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
Jimbōchō is home to some 130 vintage book stores — Time Out highlights Isseido Booksellers and Kitazawa Bookstore as great starting points for a day of bookish exploring — as well as its coffee-shop culture and delicious curry houses.
—Francesca Street, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
Redford’s Joe Turner is a bookish CIA analyst who leaves the office for lunch one day and returns to find that all of his colleagues have been murdered.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bookish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bookish
literary
Adjective
-
The literary record assumes the same.—
-
The subtle literary theme extends to the bar, Quill, with cocktails like The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, a bourbon and black tea concoction named for Carson McCullers’ notable work.—
Cite this Entry
“Bookish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bookish. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share