unlike

¹un·like

adjective \-ˈlīk\

Definition of UNLIKE

: not like: as

a : marked by lack of resemblance : different <the two books are quite unlike>

b : marked by inequality : unequal <contributed unlike amounts>

— un·like·ness noun

Examples of UNLIKE

1. a comparison of unlike things
2. <you're trying to compare very unlike things—like those proverbial apples and oranges>

First Known Use of UNLIKE

13th century

Related to UNLIKE

Synonyms

disparate, dissimilar, distant, distinct, distinctive, distinguishable, diverse, nonidentical, other, unalike, different

Antonyms

alike, identical, indistinguishable, kin, kindred, like, parallel, same, similar

Related Words

divers, miscellaneous, mixed, several, sundry, variant, varied, various; differentiable, discriminable; alternate, alternative, individual, particular, peculiar, single; disproportionate, divergent, unequal

Near Antonyms

equal, selfsame; equivalent, tantamount; akin, analogous, comparable, homological, homologous, related; homogeneous, homogenous, uniform

Rhymes with UNLIKE

alike, apelike, armlike, barnlike, bearlike, belike, birdlike, bladelike, boatlike, boxlike, called strike, catlike, childlike, Christlike, clawlike, claylike, clocklike, dirgelike, dirt bike, dislike, doglike, dreamlike, feel like, first strike, fishlike, flu-like, fly-strike, garpike, godlike, grasslike, handspike, hitchhike, homelike, horselike, hymnlike, jazzlike, Klondike, lifelike, mislike, moonlike, nunlike, parklike, pealike, push-bike, rampike, ratlike, rent strike, restrike, ringlike, rocklike, rootlike, ropelike, scalelike, sharklike, sheaflike, shrimplike, shunpike, snakelike, sphinxlike, springlike, suchlike, tanklike, ten-strike, trail bike, trancelike, turnpike, Updike, Vandyke, Van Dyck, warlike, wavelike, whalelike, wifelike, winglike, wraithlike

²unlike

preposition

Definition of UNLIKE

: not like: as

a : different from <a landscape unlike any other>

b : not characteristic of <it was unlike him to be late>

c : in a different manner from <spoke clearly, unlike the others>

Examples of UNLIKE

1. The plants that grow here are unlike the plants that grow where I live.
2. She's unlike anyone I've ever met.

First Known Use of UNLIKE

circa 1592

³unlike

conjunction

Definition of UNLIKE

: in a manner that is different than : not as

Usage Discussion of UNLIKE

The use of unlike as a conjunction is less common than conjunctive use of like and, while criticized, is not as frequently cited as an error. The conjunctive unlike almost always introduces a prepositional phrase <unlike in other areas, the judiciary cannot justify its attempt … as a necessary evil — Alexandra M. Walsh, Stanford Law Review>. In spite of criticism, this conjunctive use of unlike is well established in both American and British English.

First Known Use of UNLIKE

1949