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

Locavores might choke on their Boise Farmers Market granola seeing a chain take over where a local business failed — with a not entirely dissimilar concept, to boot. —Michael Deeds december 5, Idaho Statesman, 5 Dec. 2025

Clover’s body shape isn’t that dissimilar from some of the monsters that Godzilla and Kong have fought in the MonsterVerse films. —James Grebey, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025

Davis’s philosophy was not so dissimilar. —Helena Alonso Paisley, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025

The platform is flooded with brand try-ons and ‘shop with me’ content — though dissimilar from its heyday, there isn’t a logo in sight. —Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025

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