1
as in unusual
being out of the ordinary
a year of aberrant weather—record rainfall in the summer, record heat in the autumn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in abnormal
departing from some accepted standard of what is normal
aberrant behavior can be a sign of rabies in a wild animal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in deviant
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 aberrant
David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
So her aberrant behavior was anxiety-driven?
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
But Tuttle and Birney, whose Hank is witty, insightful and guilt-stricken over his aberrant desires, know that many people will condemn them for portraying a pedophile as a human being, not just a monster.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 8 Oct. 2025
The aberrant gene makes a form of the huntingtin protein that clumps into toxic aggregates, which prevent nerves from functioning normally.
—Alice Park, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aberrant
Adjective
More recently, though, he’s been following through, no matter how aberrant his ideas.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
So her aberrant behavior was anxiety-driven?
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
But Tuttle and Birney, whose Hank is witty, insightful and guilt-stricken over his aberrant desires, know that many people will condemn them for portraying a pedophile as a human being, not just a monster.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 8 Oct. 2025
The aberrant gene makes a form of the huntingtin protein that clumps into toxic aggregates, which prevent nerves from functioning normally.
—Alice Park, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aberrant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aberrant
Adjective
-
The Sun forms a cazimi with Mercury in Taurus in your 3rd House of Communication, illuminating messages, conversations, errands, and daily decisions with unusual clarity.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
-
The unusual move would allow the administration to bypass a public bidding process, relying on a deal for engineering services already underway at the White House.—
Sarah Blaskey,
Washington Post,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
In recent decades, drugs that target these proteins on the surface of tumor cells have been able to slow abnormal growth and control breast, lung, pancreas, and colon cancers involving these genes.—
Alice Park,
Time,
12 May 2026
-
Moments later, someone ran by with an AED defibrillator—the portable device helps detect an abnormal heartbeat and can deliver an electrical shock during sudden cardiac arrest.—
Asal Rezaei,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
The central and longest section presents the Guru’s grievances against Aurangzeb in the style of a Sufi pir (spiritual guide) addressing a deviant murid (disciple), indicting the emperor for violating the oath and sanctioning the murder of Gobind Singh’s sons.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
-
This boosts the rank, and by experimenting with this mechanic, players can uncover mutations and deviants, the rarest and most powerful variants.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Both political insurgents were elected under extraordinary circumstances.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
The extraordinary Denis Compton was one of England’s great batters over two decades from the late 1930s to the late 50s but was good enough as a footballer to win the league and FA Cup as a winger with Arsenal.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
As real trees begin to bloom outside, photographer Widline Cadet picks through two playfully oversized bouquets of positively unnatural plastic flowers.—
Elly Fishman,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
-
Moore is the closest thing going to Jeremiyah Love in terms of an unnatural talent.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
But what the New Yorker writer left behind is some of the finest prose of the 20th century, focusing primarily on the eccentrics, scalawags, seamen, and other denizens of New York’s dank corners.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
2 May 2026
-
The town’s overflowing with charming Midwest eccentrics, including a cocky mayor (Henry Winkler) and a welcoming barkeep (Lena Headey).—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Toulouse pride themselves on a blend of youth and experience in their ranks, but this teenager was exceptional.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
This may seem especially strange given birds’ exceptional vision.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Mental-health support is often discussed in broad terms, but meaningful progress happens when care is local, comprehensive and responsive to the unique needs of individuals and families.—
Maria Bledsoe,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 May 2026
-
Bohun Sandra’s thoughts and approach are so unique.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aberrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aberrant. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
