otherness

oth·er·ness | \ ˈə-t͟hər-nəs

How to pronounce otherness (audio)

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Definition of otherness

1 : the quality or state of being other or different

2 : something that is other or different

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about otherness

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Examples of otherness in a Sentence

As an American growing up in Africa, I always felt a sense of otherness. the otherness of their small religious community

Recent Examples on the Web By using Xhosa lyrics, Brazilian drums, and synths that resembled bagpipes, Gabriel made no faithful re-creation of any one style, but rather a palatable hybrid steeped in a vague feel of otherness. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, "Coldplay Would Like to Save the World With Vagueness," 26 Nov. 2019 This disruption of the narrative of otherness mirrors the way people actually want to be seen. — Soleil Ho, SFChronicle.com, "What is spoopy? Your guide to the internet’s favorite Halloween aesthetic," 26 Oct. 2019 But behind those crosstown success stories is a sense of division, of otherness, fueled by one team's exodus and decades of racial and political disharmony. — Brian Burnsed, SI.com, "Two Playoff Teams, Two New Stadiums and One Great Divide," 3 Oct. 2019 With its florid flora and prehistoric fauna, its end-of-the-road otherness, its castles literally built on sand, this flat appendage dangling from the southeast corner of the continental U.S. makes a fine backdrop for all kinds of craziness. — Los Angeles Times, "‘Florida Man’ is so over. On TV, Florida women are having their day," 23 Aug. 2019 Was this detail meant to highlight Stanford’s otherness amid San Francisco’s white colonization? — Ian Shapira, Washington Post, "Silicon Valley is a popular target for writers. How does Daniel Handler’s ‘Bottle Grove’ hold up?," 30 Aug. 2019 Unintelligent With Purpose What’s also vital to point out is that the unintelligent Asians of contemporary television help break down the model minority myth without perpetuating the otherness of Asian people. — Rachel Yang, Teen Vogue, "Unintelligent Asians Are Smart for Television," 8 Aug. 2019 Their music is for outsiders, made by outsiders, and a festival celebrating otherness in pop only seems right under their purview. — Steven J. Horowitz, Billboard, "Charli XCX and Troye Sivan Light It Up, Debut New Song at Inaugural Go West Fest," 7 June 2019 His Palestinian ethnicity was called into question by critics in his own party — clearly his judgment was clouded by his otherness, just like Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, also a Palestinian. — Lorraine Ali, latimes.com, "From ‘Aladdin’ to Galaxy’s Edge, how Hollywood interprets Arab culture," 14 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'otherness.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near otherness

other insurance

Statistics for otherness

Last Updated

29 Nov 2019

Cite this Entry

“Otherness.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/otherness. Accessed 19 January 2020.

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