1
as in unfamiliar
happening or existing without one's knowledge
unknown to me was the fact that while I was out, my family was hurriedly preparing a surprise birthday party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in novel
not known or experienced before
becoming a father brought unknown joy to his life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obscure
not widely known
looking for a relatively unknown singer to record the song
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of unknown
Clement made the most of an unknown entry point into the firescape that the National Guard closed off to the public.
—
Esther Tseng, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Nov. 2025
Of course, YouTube also is undoubtedly feeling financial pressure from the standoff, given that an unknown number of subscribers have dropped the service because of the loss of ESPN, ABC and other Disney nets.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 11 Nov. 2025
For some unknown reason, Carol is one of a dozen or so people who are immune.
—Samantha Highfill, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Nov. 2025
After escaping enslavement, Peter, whose last name is unknown, served as a sergeant in the Black regiment in the Union Army during the Civil War, according to the National Portrait Gallery.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unknown
Esther Tseng, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Nov. 2025
Of course, YouTube also is undoubtedly feeling financial pressure from the standoff, given that an unknown number of subscribers have dropped the service because of the loss of ESPN, ABC and other Disney nets.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 11 Nov. 2025
For some unknown reason, Carol is one of a dozen or so people who are immune.
—Samantha Highfill, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Nov. 2025
After escaping enslavement, Peter, whose last name is unknown, served as a sergeant in the Black regiment in the Union Army during the Civil War, according to the National Portrait Gallery.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unknown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unknown
Adjective
-
Her comedy plays like a loving travelogue of her life laid out with an assurance that these details will be unfamiliar, thrilling, and exotic.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Review the reports for unfamiliar accounts or inquiries.—
Jan Diaz,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The secret bar is one of several novel elements on the new ship that’s home-porting at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale this month in its inaugural sailing season.—
Vinod Sreeharsha,
Miami Herald,
11 Nov. 2025
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One of the most novel concepts is the Williamsburg Bridge Marathon, which requires runners to traverse back and forth between Brooklyn and Manhattan.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Add to that list Inhotim, a sprawling and relatively obscure contemporary art collection in the jungle of the state of Minas Gerais that surpasses any notion of what a museum can be.—
William O'Connor,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
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Mamdani began his campaign as a relatively obscure state lawmaker, little known even within New York City.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie turned the wizardly backstory into an epic adventure, opening a gateway for young unbeknownst fantasy fans everywhere while also delivering a classically wholesome story about the importance of family and a parent's unconditional love.—
EW Staff,
EW.com,
1 July 2024
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For a surprise at the end, unbeknownst even to King, Winfrey arranged a path lined with sparklers, framing the couple in a golden glow against the night sky.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
6 June 2024
Adjective
-
But then something strange happened.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
This addictive, loping track is one of the best and strangest songs from the artist’s fifth album.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Look for unusual activity such as unrecognized logins, changes to passwords or new connected devices.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Oct. 2025
-
In many cases, fans were able to see that the tickets were surreptitiously forwarded to unrecognized accounts, presumably so they could be sold on third-party sites.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Mamdani’s unprecedented ability to dominate the internet has led many to attribute his rise wholly to social media.—
Taylor Lorenz,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Nov. 2025
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The unprecedented decision to halt benefits has panicked many recipients, driving them to overwhelmed food pantries to help feed themselves and their families.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The interdisciplinary approach brought the duke’s life and death to a stunning clarity — indicating how analyses can shed new light on age-old mysteries, even murders.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
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While earning a master's degree in exercise and coaching science at University College Dublin, she was introduced to CrossFit and discovered a new kind of challenge with its emphasis on versatility and constant adaptation.—
NWA Democrat-Gazette,
Arkansas Online,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unknown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unknown. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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