uncanny

adjective un·can·ny \ ˌən-ˈka-nē \

|Updated on: 12 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: uncanny in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of uncanny

uncannier; uncanniest

1 a : seeming to have a supernatural character or origin : eerie, mysterious

b : being beyond what is normal or expected : suggesting superhuman or supernatural powers

an uncanny sense of direction

2 chiefly Scotland : severe, punishing

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uncannily

play \ˌən-ˈka-nə-lē\ adverb

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uncanniness

play \ˌən-ˈka-nē-nəs\ noun

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Examples of uncanny in a Sentence

I was struck by his uncanny ability to communicate arcane, complex economic policy and by his punk-rock instinct to question the status quo. —Bono, Time, 18 Apr. 2005
To an economist, the 1990s bear an uncanny resemblance to two earlier decades: the 1920s in the United States and the 1980s in Japan. In all three decades, technological change produced extraordinary economic growth, leading to talk of a "new era" and triggering a bull market in stocks that terminated in a market collapse—widely regarded as the bursting of a speculative bubble. —Milton Friedman, Wall Street Journal, 22 Jan. 2002
As he approached quite close to the enclosure he saw an excited group surrounding the two fugitives, who, trembling with fright and exhaustion, were scarce able to recount the uncanny details of their adventure. —Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan of the Apes, 1914
She could not teach herself to think favourably of Pansy, whose absence of initiative, of conversation, of personal claims, seemed to her, in a girl of twenty, unnatural and even uncanny. —Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady, 1881
She had an uncanny resemblance to someone I had seen before.
She has an uncanny sense of direction.
an uncanny ability to predict the weather

Recent Examples of uncanny from the Web

Walter had an uncanny ability to make people laugh.

— Sun-Sentinel.com, "Deaths in South Florida: 7/8," 8 July 2018
There’s a woman with a cat familiar that can perform outlandish special attacks, and a secret agent with an uncanny ability to avoid attacks.

— andrew webster, The Verge, "Pocket Rumble for the Nintendo Switch channels the best portable fighters," 6 July 2018
Most alarming for Brooks, though, is Howard’s uncanny ability to blow up his head coaches.

— ben golliver, SI.com, "2018 NBA Free Agency: The Early Winners And Losers," 5 July 2018
Smith mastered that and had an uncanny ability to minimize turnovers and extend drives.

— lindsay h. jones, USA TODAY, "Chiefs training camp questions: Can Patrick Mahomes take Kansas City to next level?," 2 July 2018
Fortunately, Walter has both few scruples and an uncanny ability to lure, trick or cajole just about everyone in his orbit into doing his bidding.

— julia m. klein, Philly.com, "'His Girl Friday' at Hedgerow: Fast talk, fast pace," 2 July 2018
He was seen as a visionary, with a keen story sense and an uncanny ability to understand what audiences craved.

— brent lang, chicagotribune.com, "Jennifer Lee, Pete Docter to run Disney Animation, Pixar," 19 June 2018
Source: The Straits Times/SPHOL via AP Mahathir had an uncanny ability to irritate world leaders.

— Bloomberg.com, "Bloomberg," 14 May 2018
Her poise and confidence under pressure is uncanny.

— craig clary, baltimoresun.com, "Catonsville High's Jasmine Dickey is Catonsville Times Female Athlete of the Year," 20 June 2018

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

Did You Know?

Weird and eerie are synonyms of uncanny, but there are subtle differences in the meanings of the three words. Weird may be used to describe something that is generally strange or out of the ordinary. Eerie suggests an uneasy or fearful consciousness that some kind of mysterious and malign powers are at work, while uncanny, which debuted in the 18th century, implies disquieting strangeness or mysteriousness. English also has a word canny, but canny and uncanny should not be interpreted as opposites. Canny, which first appeared in English in the 16th century, means "clever," "shrewd" or "prudent," as in "a canny lawyer" or "a canny investment."

First Known Use of uncanny

1773

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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uncanny Synonyms

Synonyms

magical, miraculous, phenomenal, preternatural, superhuman, supernatural, supernormal, transcendent, transcendental, unearthly;

Near Antonyms

average, commonplace, everyday, ordinary, prosaic, routine, run-of-the-mill, typical, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual, workaday;

expected, familiar, predictable;

common, customary, frequent, habitual, regular, wonted;

baffling, bewildering, confounding, mystifying, perplexing, puzzling, shocking;

aberrant, atypical, fantastic (also fantastical), flaky, freak, freakish, idiosyncratic, marvelous (or marvellous), prodigious, rare, singular, uncommon, unique, unnatural, unusual;

Synonym Discussion of uncanny

weird, eerie, uncanny mean mysteriously strange or fantastic. weird may imply an unearthly or supernatural strangeness or it may stress queerness or oddness.