as in strange
not known or experienced before
ordered an unfamiliar wine and was surprised to find that it was much drier than what they were used to
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 unfamiliar
The role of perennial Emmy contender was largely unfamiliar to Lawrence until the massive success of Ted Lasso.
—
Joe Reid, Vulture, 16 May 2026
Stranded in an unfamiliar area that she's known as enemy territory, Chang must rely on strangers to find her way back home.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 15 May 2026
That combination must have been unfamiliar to them.
—Zama Magudulela, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2026
If the amount looks unfamiliar or inflated with fees and interest, requesting that the debt be validated could make sense.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Joe Reid, Vulture, 16 May 2026
Stranded in an unfamiliar area that she's known as enemy territory, Chang must rely on strangers to find her way back home.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 15 May 2026
That combination must have been unfamiliar to them.
—Zama Magudulela, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2026
If the amount looks unfamiliar or inflated with fees and interest, requesting that the debt be validated could make sense.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfamiliar
Adjective
-
They were considered to have strange physical afflictions or weak mental attitudes, and some people with endocrine diseases were even dismissed as ‘freaks’ and heckled in circuses or locked away in institutions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
So yes, there was a kind of resistance, because the film and the script could seem strange, and some people wanted to normalize it, to fit it into a genre.—
Roberto Prieto,
Variety,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
And across all networks, just six new shows bow in the fall — with most waiting for post-football homes.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
15 May 2026
-
Winston makes a cameo to execute another electric Ford Field trick play, and the Giants lose a close one with their offense starting to find a new gear.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
The creature changes color and shape instantly, solves novel problems, and even regrows damaged limbs.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
In 1987, such genuine earnestness in a song that was actually about something was novel and welcome to listeners like me, who felt alienated by Top 40 radio but were too sheltered to encounter, let alone embrace, hardcore or rap.—
Dan Kois,
Pitchfork,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Los Angeles Dodgers recently made an unprecedented move with perennial All-Star catcher Will Smith.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
The administration enlists tech firms like Palantir to spy on residents in unprecedented ways.—
Olivier Sylvain,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Neighbors Café, a breakfast and lunch counter spot, skews healthy with wellness drinks like a supershroom latte, fresh juices and smoothies, and overnight oats (there are also tasty pastries and breakfast sandwiches).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
-
For the Iowa City Public Library, the largest in Iowa, the role of the distributor is but one step in a process to get a fresh book onto its shelves.—
Adeel Hassan,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
While the story is fundamentally the same as the original production — man discovers wife is having an affair, man then plots for his wife’s murder, man then must evade the cops — Hatcher brings the story to the 21st century in many ways.—
Amy Reyes
May 14,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
-
Chaiyaphum is the Thai province where the original fossils were discovered.—
Briana Alvarado,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Additional images showed an unknown number of snakes curled on top of one another inside a large crate that was placed in the back of an officer’s vehicle.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
-
What Rodriguez Singh hoped to say – whether to defend herself, explain her actions, or offer any insight into the case – remains unknown.—
Doug Dunbar,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfamiliar. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
