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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unfamiliar
As in Robinson’s other works, what elevates them from amusing to sublime is the way they’re performed, often by unfamiliar but wonderfully offbeat character actors — through overly broad smiles, wild-eyed smirks, strange pronunciations.
—
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
Then, late in the third quarter, the Bruins reached for a familiar face in an unfamiliar role.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Trailing 10-0 in the first quarter against Mansfield Lake Ridge, North Crowley found itself in an unfamiliar position in District 3-6A play.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025
Try going out into the woods with your binoculars and following unfamiliar sounds.
—JSTOR Daily, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
Then, late in the third quarter, the Bruins reached for a familiar face in an unfamiliar role.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Trailing 10-0 in the first quarter against Mansfield Lake Ridge, North Crowley found itself in an unfamiliar position in District 3-6A play.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025
Try going out into the woods with your binoculars and following unfamiliar sounds.
—JSTOR Daily, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfamiliar
Adjective
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Thomas Wentworth Higginson spent his leisure time writing down the strange new lyrics in his journal.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
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The place was a dump, with paint chipping from the ceilings, floors slanted at strange angles, rodent droppings situated along the floorboards, and paper-thin walls that welcomed in bitter winter air.—
Jeff Pearlman,
Rolling Stone,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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China’s sweeping new restrictions, some of which won’t take effect until November, could deal a huge blow to East Asian economies, such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, which play critical roles in the global tech and artificial intelligence supply chain, as well as the auto industries.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 2025
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And among the primary challenges is learning new defensive principles.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Break out of a rut by being open to novel approaches toward love and by being less codependent.—
Lisa Stardust,
Refinery29,
14 Oct. 2025
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The team employed a novel method using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver messenger RNA (mRNA) directly to the testes.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The Administration has also issued reductions in force at agencies such as the Treasury Department and Health and Human Services, firing more than four thousand workers—an unprecedented action during a shutdown.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
15 Oct. 2025
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The film was being produced for an unprecedented $200 million budget — the most expensive movie ever made at the time — and the general public wasn't yet convinced that a movie about an 85-year-old maritime tragedy was anything to get hyped about.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That sense of reiterating his faith and a fresh start were on display Sunday night as Brown registered his first two-touchdown game in four seasons to help the resurgent Chiefs beat visiting Detroit 30-17.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
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Unfortunately, most bread boxes and bags just don’t keep bread fresh long enough to reach the end of the loaf.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The original sword requested by administration officials was given to Eisenhower in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
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Gathering more accurate data about right whales while revising the original law would help protect the animals, Olsen said.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In a day of turmoil for the nation off southern Africa’s coast, the 51-year-old leader, whose whereabouts are unknown, earlier sought to dissolve the lower house by decree.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
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Per The New York Post, the spacious 21,000-square-foot Olympia Fields estate was sold to an unknown buyer, but the history behind the home may have had much to do with its purchase.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfamiliar. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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