1
as in unfamiliar
happening or existing without one's knowledge
unknown to me was the fact that while I was out, my family was hurriedly preparing a surprise birthday party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in novel
not known or experienced before
becoming a father brought unknown joy to his life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obscure
not widely known
looking for a relatively unknown singer to record the song
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of unknown
The current theory is that matter was created slightly in excess compared with antimatter — just one extra matter particle per roughly 1 billion antimatter particles — although the reason is unknown.
—
Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Some protesters threw frozen water bottles, rocks and an unknown substance at police that caused some burning, Keeton said.
—Charlotte Observer, 27 Mar. 2026
Because the breasts are the unknown?
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
The full extent of what octopuses experience during sleep remains unknown.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unknown
Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Some protesters threw frozen water bottles, rocks and an unknown substance at police that caused some burning, Keeton said.
—Charlotte Observer, 27 Mar. 2026
Because the breasts are the unknown?
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
The full extent of what octopuses experience during sleep remains unknown.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unknown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unknown
Adjective
-
This is not an unfamiliar tap dance.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
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Learning a language, studying abroad, or simply traveling to experience something entirely unfamiliar to you.—
Kirah Tabourn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But police use of the novel technology has attracted criticism – and it’s been linked to other cases of misidentification.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
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The first is curiosity — the drive to generate novel questions, not just process existing ones.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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More elderly people could find themselves at the mercy of an obscure government program meant to save them from harm and preserve their dignity when their ability to take care of themselves is diminished.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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Lyrics in the song include clear references to Taylor’s life and style, and also some more obscure Easter-egg-type reference.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie turned the wizardly backstory into an epic adventure, opening a gateway for young unbeknownst fantasy fans everywhere while also delivering a classically wholesome story about the importance of family and a parent's unconditional love.—
EW Staff,
EW.com,
1 July 2024
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For a surprise at the end, unbeknownst even to King, Winfrey arranged a path lined with sparklers, framing the couple in a golden glow against the night sky.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
6 June 2024
Adjective
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Some 18 months ago, Mack said, the Royals launched a deep dive after Picollo broached the possibility of exploring strange new worlds.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
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But rather than avoiding strange quantum phenomena such as superposition and entanglement, Bennett and Brassard embraced them.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Yet, like the Academy, the movie business at large has its blind spots; some of Iran’s best films remain unrecognized in the United States.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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The college sits within a cluster of other unaccredited schools—many of them religious institutions—whose degrees hold no weight in the civil service and often go unrecognized in higher education and most workplaces.—
Olivia Empson,
Vanity Fair,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But Felder also feared that the attack would provoke unprecedented violence against Palestinians, and believed that being Jewish required adhering to certain moral precepts.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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The mission won’t land on the moon but will take astronauts deeper into space than ever, offering unprecedented views of the lunar far side.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Carson Benge homered in his first career game, going back-to-back with Francisco Alvarez at the bottom of a new-look lineup, and Freddy Peralta (1-0) won his Mets debut as New York improved to 42-23 on opening day before a sellout crowd of 41,449.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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The Brewers are looking to the Blue Springs native to be their new ace and lead them back to the National League Championship Series, and maybe even further.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unknown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unknown. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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