aberrant 1 of 2

adjective

a-ˈber-ənt How to pronounce aberrant (audio)
Definition of aberrantnext
1
as in unusual
being out of the ordinary a year of aberrant weather—record rainfall in the summer, record heat in the autumn

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

aberrant

2 of 2

noun

as in deviant

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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
Adjective
That Millett could not accept the continuation of normal life in the face of the aberrant murder of a stranger is evidence of her formidable sense of justice. — Rachel Cusk, New Yorker, 13 June 2026 Making the aberrant choice stand out all the more was that Season 2 didn’t get to finish on its own terms. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 May 2026
Noun
An adventure without a modicum of agenda, absent any aspirations, aberrant or apposite. — Padgett Powell, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for aberrant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aberrant
  1. unusual
  2. abnormal
  3. deviant
  4. extraordinary
  5. unnatural
  6. eccentric
  7. exceptional
  8. unique
Adjective
  • Atomic hydrogen’s unusual reactivity could potentially be useful in other areas of organic chemistry and, over the longer term, biological sciences.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The unusual diversion also led to discussion among travelers online, some of whom shared their own experiences with restroom problems aboard flights.
    — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • Storm surges -- abnormal rise in sea level caused by storms -- could reach 7 feet in parts of the Mississippi and Alabama coasts, and up to 5 feet on the western Florida panhandle.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • While one form, or isomer, of thalidomide has a sedative effect, the other is thought to cause abnormal physiological development.
    — Sajish Mathew, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of abnormal
Noun
  • 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
  • Tolerating deviant behavior is the same as saying that behavior is acceptable.
    — Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Definition of deviant
Adjective
  • Alongside Parton’s thousands of remarkable songs, the singer’s extraordinary life and career reached beyond music.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Hill’s departure marks the end of an extraordinary run in one of heavy metal’s defining bands.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of extraordinary
Adjective
  • The California Department of Public Health said animals with rabies will often have strange or unnatural behavior.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Generated by an internal large language model (LLM), OpenAI’s proof relies on an approach that many experts find unnatural.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of unnatural
Noun
  • The public reckonings with these figures’ legacies—the troubled former child star gone too soon, the beloved icon, the cult favorite, the complicated eccentric—have come in a cascade.
    — Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Make sure to practice a full range of motion with these and emphasize the eccentric (the way down) part of the movement for maximal time under tension and muscle-building stimulus.
    — Jakob Roze, HEALTH, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of eccentric
Adjective
  • The lifestyle here is anchored by an exceptional collection of amenities.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The territory is also looking at its exceptional biodiversity as a platform for innovation, particularly in beauty, pharmaceuticals and healthcare.
    — Panorama Media Ltd, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of exceptional
Adjective
  • That unique gallery purchased the building in 2018 for $3 million, but officials there didn’t begin planning its future in earnest until Cap City vacated its lease and closed in July 2025.
    — John Wenzel, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026
  • On Saturday, the singer and talk show host took to X to share details of her recent experience at Art of Play, a store known for its collection of toys, games, books, puzzles and other unique items.
    — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of unique

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Cite this Entry

“Aberrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aberrant. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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