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

Carpenter bees are large, solitary insects not dissimilar in appearance to bumblebees. —Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 9 May 2026

These policies allegedly led to other instances of misconduct by sheriff’s deputies, but Curiel wrote that the examples alleged by the plaintiffs were too dissimilar to the circumstances in Espinoza’s case. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026

When turning sharply, there’s a grind not too dissimilar from the sound of creaking old bones. —James Raia, Mercury News, 4 May 2026

Cousins’s presence means Mendoza likely won’t have to start right away, and will also have a veteran quarterback who can mentor him — not dissimilar to how Alex Smith started for the Chiefs during Patrick Mahomes’s rookie year. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 24 Apr. 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