dissimilar

adjective

dis·​sim·​i·​lar (ˌ)di(s)-ˈsi-mə-lər 

-ˈsim-lər

: not the same or similar : different or unalike

people with dissimilar backgrounds

dissimilar materials

The responsibilities of the resident were not dissimilar to those of the intern …

—James D. Hardy

dissimilarly

(ˈ)di(s)-ˈsi-mə-lər-lē 

-ˈsim-lər-

adverb

Synonyms of dissimilar

• different
• diverse
• distinctive
• distinct

Examples of dissimilar in a Sentence

The two movies are very dissimilar.

The writers have dissimilar backgrounds.

The question is not dissimilar to one asked earlier.

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s not too dissimilar from the path Mattingly took to the field Thursday. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Having a conversation with Gold House founder Bing Chen isn’t terribly dissimilar from taking an amphetamine. — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026

Car batteries are not too dissimilar to the AA batteries in your TV’s remote control. — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 22 July 2026

Many of the challenges that trans and nonbinary young folks are experiencing aren’t so dissimilar to the larger LGBTQ community. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 17 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin dissimilāris, from Latin dis- dis- + Medieval Latin similāris similar

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dissimilar

• not dissimilar

Rhymes for dissimilar

• similar

Kids Definition

dissimilar

adjective

dis·​sim·​i·​lar (ˈ)dis-ˈ(s)im-ə-lər 

: different sense 1, unlike

dissimilarity

(ˌ)dis-ˌ(s)im-ə-ˈlar-ət-ē 

noun

dissimilarly

(ˈ)dis-ˈ(s)im-ə-lər-lē 

adverb