ab·nor·mal | \ (ˌ)ab-ˈnȯr-məl 
, əb- \
, əb- \Definition of abnormal
(Entry 1 of 2)
: deviating from the normal or average
a person with abnormal [=exceptional] strength abnormal powers of concentration often : unusual in an unwelcome or problematic way abnormal behavior abnormal test results
abnormal
nounDefinition of abnormal (Entry 2 of 2)
: an abnormal person
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Other Words from abnormal
Adjective
abnormally \ (ˌ)ab-ˈnȯr-mə-lē , əb- \ adverb
, əb- \ adverb
behaving abnormally
Synonyms & Antonyms for abnormal
Synonyms: Adjective
- aberrant,
- aberrated,
- anomalous,
- atypical,
- especial,
- exceeding,
- exceptional,
- extraordinaire,
- extraordinary,
- freak,
- odd,
- peculiar,
- phenomenal,
- preternatural,
- rare,
- singular,
- uncommon,
- uncustomary,
- unique,
- unusual,
- unwonted
Antonyms: Adjective
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Examples of abnormal in a Sentence
Adjective
The results of the blood test were abnormal.
a completely abnormal school day, because half of the kids were out sick
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective This week, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree arrived in New York City, a brief sight of normalcy in an otherwise very abnormal holiday season.
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Jennifer Aldrich, Better Homes & Gardens, "The Rockefeller Christmas Tree Arrived in NYC and It's Not What We Expected," 18 Nov. 2020 Seventy percent of the blood cells in Emilie’s bone marrow — the soft, spongy tissue inside the bones where blood cells and platelets are made — were abnormal white cells known as myeloblasts.
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Ginny Graves, Good Housekeeping, "Searching for Bone Marrow Can Be Harrowing For Anyone — But It's Especially Difficult for People of Color," 17 Nov. 2020 Dangerously low levels of potassium can lead to abnormal heart rhythms, high blood pressure, and, in some cases, congestive heart failure.
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Madeline Farber, Fox News, "Massachusetts man dies after ‘overdosing’ on black licorice: case report," 24 Sep. 2020 Three murder-suicides in a short period of time are abnormal for the county, as is the increase in the number of patients with substance, anxiety and depression issues seeking help.
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James Whitlow, baltimoresun.com, "Three murder-suicides in recent months abnormal for Harford; more seeking services from Harford crisis center as pandemic drags on," 27 Nov. 2020 While Halloween may be abnormal this year, that doesn’t mean residents can’t scare up some fun in a safer way.
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Luke Money, Los Angeles Times, "Halloween a do-or-die moment in California fight against fall COVID-19 wave," 31 Oct. 2020 Advocates fear that portraying villains with physical defects can perpetuate stereotypes that disabilities are abnormal or scary.
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Rebecca Rubin, chicagotribune.com, "Warner Bros. apologizes after ‘The Witches’ sparks backlash from people with disabilities," 5 Nov. 2020 Everything leading up to this day has been tense and abnormal.
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Robin Givhan, Washington Post, "Waiting for relief," 4 Nov. 2020 Hurricane Delta has upended college football, which has delivered a welcome hint of normalcy to the Gulf States in a year made abnormal by the persistence of the coronavirus crisis.
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Richard Fausset, New York Times, "In the Path of Six Major Storms Since June, Louisiana Braces for Delta," 8 Oct. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Several in the Santiam district spoke to The Oregonian/OregonLive about what’s become a catchphrase of the double bind -- the new abnormal.
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oregonlive, "Oregon wildfires heap emotional trauma on children already suffering from coronavirus pandemic," 20 Oct. 2020 The abnormal of 2020 continued through this game as lightning delayed the game by more than half an hour late in the third quarter, and with 3:52 remaining in the game, half of the stadium's lighting went out.
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al, "Clay-Chalkville cruises past Shades Valley 37-19 in season opener," 22 Aug. 2020 Welcome to the Charles Schwab Challenge and the PGA Tour’s new abnormal.
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Dallas News, "This year’s Charles Schwab at Colonial will be memorable. Hopefully for good sanitization, but definitely for the silence.," 12 June 2020 The emergence of a new abnormal will depend on several factors.
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Eric M. Stone, STAT, "Covid-19 is changing the game for health care companies and investors," 5 June 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'abnormal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for abnormal
abnormal
adjectiveab·nor·mal | \ ab-ˈnȯr-məl \
\Kids Definition of abnormal
: differing from the normal usually in a noticeable way
an abnormal growth
abnormal
adjectiveab·nor·mal | \ (ˈ)ab-ˈnȯr-məl \
\Medical Definition of abnormal
(Entry 1 of 2)
: deviating from the normal, average, or expected
abnormal development results of the Pap smear were abnormal abnormal actions departing from accepted standards of social behavior
Other Words from abnormal
abnormally \ -mə-lē \ adverb
\ adverbabnormal
nounMedical Definition of abnormal (Entry 2 of 2)
: an abnormal person
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Comments on abnormal
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Time Traveler for abnormal
The first known use of abnormal was in 1817
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