ˌən-kən-ˈven(t)-sh(ə-)nəl
1
as in dissident
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices
the Shakers acquired their name because of their unconventional practice of dancing with shaking movements during worship
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in modern
not bound by traditional ways or beliefs
had unconventional opinions on the raising of children
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3
as in informal
not rigidly following established form, custom, or rules
young, creative people who lead unconventional but fulfilling lifestyles
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unconventional
Venus, planet of money, moves through your 2nd House of Resources and forms a sextile to unconventional Uranus in your 12th House of Solitude, so insights can guide wise spending.
—
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 15 June 2026
Follow your instincts – the more unusual or unconventional, the better!
—Usa Today, USA Today, 15 June 2026
Some of that skill was young and undersized — like with Blake and Stankoven — but some of it was unconventional skill down the lineup, like with Mark Jankowski.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 15 June 2026
Ernest granted her a provisional decree of divorce in October 1936, the same month Edward proposed with an unconventional engagement ring.
—Ilana Frost, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unconventional
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 15 June 2026
Follow your instincts – the more unusual or unconventional, the better!
—Usa Today, USA Today, 15 June 2026
Some of that skill was young and undersized — like with Blake and Stankoven — but some of it was unconventional skill down the lineup, like with Mark Jankowski.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 15 June 2026
Ernest granted her a provisional decree of divorce in October 1936, the same month Edward proposed with an unconventional engagement ring.
—Ilana Frost, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unconventional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unconventional
Adjective
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The striped abstract paintings throughout the installation are based on polo shirts worn by Cuban state security agents who blend into crowds during protests, while gladiolus flowers reference the Ladies in White dissident movement.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
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These included eight members of Iranian dissident organization People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOE/MEK) and 24 participants in Iran’s January 2026 protests.—
Beth Bailey,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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The backstory What appears to be a modern building actually has quite a bit of local history.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
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He is best known for proposing the theory of cosmic inflation, a concept that transformed modern understanding of the early universe and the evolution of the big bang.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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Frequently informal and poorly regulated, both virgin and recycled polyester supply chains can expose workers to severe human-rights risks, including harassment, violence and abuse.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
17 June 2026
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Some of her success with collaborators seems to have come down to luck and an eye for talent, as in the case of the still-up-and-coming Elswit and Oppewall, who served as her informal producers during filming.—
Elaina Patton,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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Board member Renee Paschall cast the lone dissenting vote on the final package.—
Elizabeth Sander,
San Antonio Express-News,
19 Aug. 2022
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The document runs to more than a hundred and fifty pages, and for each question there are affirmative and dissenting studies, as well as some that indicate mixed results.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
3 June 2022
Adjective
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Geevarghese, the Our Revolution executive director, said local elections are often where political movements are first built, and that Mamdani has provided a blueprint for progressive candidates.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
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And the man who held the keys to that arsenal just happened to be one of the most progressive presidents black America has ever known.—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
Adjective
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This is also by far the coolest crowd at the festival, a sea of designer outfits, out-there silhouettes, fresh haircuts, and even bouquets of flowers.—
E.R. Pulgar,
SPIN,
10 June 2026
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Inevitably, this information vacuum has encouraged some pretty out-there speculation.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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Rambling usually ignores it when Dean Cain posts one of his tirades against liberal Hollywood.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
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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
Adjective
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In a world of collapsing trust in public-facing institutions, voters say they are drawn by Reform’s promises of a radical change from the old Labour-Conservative Party duopoly.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
18 June 2026
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John Maynard Keynes dreamed of an end to work, and some of the most radical and visionary progressive utopias today involve envisioning an abundant society beyond the need for labor.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unconventional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unconventional. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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