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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word irregular distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words anomalous and unnatural are common synonyms of irregular. While all three words mean "not conforming to rule, law, or custom," irregular implies not conforming to a law or regulation imposed for the sake of uniformity in method, practice, or conduct.

concerned about his irregular behavior

When would anomalous be a good substitute for irregular?

Although the words anomalous and irregular have much in common, anomalous implies not conforming to what might be expected because of the class or type to which it belongs or the laws that govern its existence.

her drive made her an anomalous figure in a sleepy organization

When could unnatural be used to replace irregular?

The meanings of unnatural and irregular largely overlap; however, unnatural suggests what is contrary to nature or to principles or standards felt to be essential to the well-being of civilized society.

prisoners treated with unnatural cruelty

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of irregular
Adjective
Turkish troops then began shelling Kurdish towns in Syria, and Turkish forces pushed forward, irregulars executing people in ditches along the road. Time, 14 Nov. 2019 Pakistani irregulars invaded, India intervened, and the two countries fought to a stalemate. Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2019
Noun
Deportation flights resumed this year as part of U.S. efforts to curb irregular migration. Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 June 2025 The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology notes that cardiac anaphylaxis can cause reduced blood flow to the heart (myocardial ischemia) and irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) when triggered by an allergy to insect venom. Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for irregular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irregular
Adjective
  • Mice studies suggest that activating these receptors may cut off oxygen supply to the retina, promoting the abnormal blood vessel growth that leads to nAMD.
    Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 20 June 2025
  • Alzheimer’s Disease is characterized by the presence of beta-amyloid, an abnormal substance which form sticky plaques on the brain which may result in death of brain cells.
    Robert Glatter, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • However, with Brooks Lee, Kody Clemens and Lewis receiving the bulk of the playing time, at-bats became more sporadic for Bride, who only had eight hits in his last 58 at-bats for the Twins.
    Dan Hayes, New York Times, 30 June 2025
  • Coaches and players who had meticulously calibrated fitness programs for 2024 were forced into an extended holding pattern, trying to maintain sharpness through sporadic friendlies and local camps.
    Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Additionally, although each member of the crew has their own particular skillset, the time spent on individual characters is uneven, and a smaller cast would have likely made things more effective.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 June 2025
  • Moreover, the legal playing field itself can be quite uneven.
    Mark Berookim, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • The partnership was a crash course for them both: an informal academy with a class roster of two.
    Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
  • Chris Jackson/Getty Images At one stage, the king had hoped for a more informal meeting in Scotland, where the royals spend their summer holiday.
    Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • Because the bear started seeking out an unnatural food source, it was euthanized for safety reasons, officials said.
    Helena Wegner, Idaho Statesman, 27 June 2025
  • For too long, sunscreen hasn’t worked for melanin-rich skin—leaving behind white casts, greasy residue, or an unnatural gray tint.
    Essence, Essence, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Colorado and Arizona State offer little more than an occasional flash.
    Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
  • Although access is limited, occasional special tours allow visitors to glimpse the staggering quantity of bullion stored below ground.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • When Squid Game first flung us into its arena of despair, questioning the status quo was the series’ fuel, and its narrative rhythm had the jagged urgency of that initial run of Red Light, Green Light.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 June 2025
  • Another photo features a marshal with a long-range precision rifle mounted on a bipod, stationed on jagged ground with dramatic peaks in the backdrop.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • The early detection of viral RNA in wild bird droppings, sometimes preceding official poultry outbreaks, suggests that unconventional surveillance in these biologically rich but infrastructurally sparse areas could play a larger role in pandemic risk mitigation.
    John Drake, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • Now, in the weeks after its unconventional 22nd anniversary celebration, the label is set to launch one of its biggest — and most personal — compilations yet.
    Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Irregular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irregular. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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