Synonyms
Examples of unusual in a Sentence
It's not unusual for him to stay late at work.
a scene of unusual beauty
She has an unusual name.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gabriel also employed the unusual strategy of releasing a new song from the album every full moon in the 11 months leading up to its release – ultimately releasing all 12 tracks in advance.
—
Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 6 Dec. 2023
The designer did, in fact, leave behind a shining legacy; one that grows in relevance as designers start piecing together upcycled and unusual materials in an effort to combat climate change.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2023
In one scene, an old man wearing a speedo and a sun visor is watering his yard, while a TV news clip shows a man covered with facial tattoos who is apparently arrested for theft after being quickly identified by his unusual facial tattoos.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2023
The film gets outside big cities to show an unusual range of characters, but the characters themselves feel contrived.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2023
With a dividend policy, Amica Mutual will pay out dividends—up to 20% of the annual premium—to policyholders, an unusual benefit for a car insurance company.
—Kat Tretina, wsj.com, 5 Dec. 2023
For much of that year, there were two job openings for every unemployed worker in the United States, giving labor unusual power to demand raises and switch into higher-paying jobs.
—Lauren Kaori Gurley, Washington Post, 5 Dec. 2023
There’s a particularly macabre segment of the world of oddities made up of people who don’t just collect unusual knickknacks — but actual human body parts.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2023
Over two decades later, the Freak, with its advanced materials and unusual design, is still considered a unique horological breakthrough—though U.N. continues to toy with its form, tweaking it subtly and expanding the collection.
—Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 24 Nov. 2023
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Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 6 Dec. 2023
The designer did, in fact, leave behind a shining legacy; one that grows in relevance as designers start piecing together upcycled and unusual materials in an effort to combat climate change.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2023
In one scene, an old man wearing a speedo and a sun visor is watering his yard, while a TV news clip shows a man covered with facial tattoos who is apparently arrested for theft after being quickly identified by his unusual facial tattoos.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2023
The film gets outside big cities to show an unusual range of characters, but the characters themselves feel contrived.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2023
With a dividend policy, Amica Mutual will pay out dividends—up to 20% of the annual premium—to policyholders, an unusual benefit for a car insurance company.
—Kat Tretina, wsj.com, 5 Dec. 2023
For much of that year, there were two job openings for every unemployed worker in the United States, giving labor unusual power to demand raises and switch into higher-paying jobs.
—Lauren Kaori Gurley, Washington Post, 5 Dec. 2023
There’s a particularly macabre segment of the world of oddities made up of people who don’t just collect unusual knickknacks — but actual human body parts.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2023
Over two decades later, the Freak, with its advanced materials and unusual design, is still considered a unique horological breakthrough—though U.N. continues to toy with its form, tweaking it subtly and expanding the collection.
—Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 24 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unusual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1579, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing unusual
Dictionary Entries Near unusual
Cite this Entry
“Unusual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unusual. Accessed 16 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
unusual
adjective
un·usu·al
ˌən-ˈyüzh-(ə-)wəl 
-ˈyü-zhəl
unusually
adverb
-ē
unusualness
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on unusual
Nglish: Translation of unusual for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of unusual for Arabic Speakers
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