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
Learning that these behaviors not only exist, but are prevalent in the animal kingdom, Page says, helps debunk what remains a widespread belief among certain humans that homosexuality and transgenderism are unnatural and aberrant. — Mike Miller, Entertainment Weekly, 19 June 2026 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
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
  • The Wiles interviews stuck out for their candor, which is unusual for a sitting White House chief of staff.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Claude can also flag unusual transactions, duplicate charges, unexpected fees and bills that have gradually increased.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • However, France's Health Ministry says staff noticed the abnormal temperature changes and reacted in time to prevent any loss of service.
    — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Both amyloid beta and tau are normally present in healthy brains; the plaques and tangles are abnormal aggregations of these molecules.
    — Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 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
  • The extraordinary beginnings of Stallone’s breakout film were explained in a New York Times interview soon after Rocky‘s release.
    — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Given the extraordinary circumstances around this review, going anywhere else for photos felt almost dishonest.
    — Kevin Fanady, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of extraordinary
Adjective
  • Some movements feel unnatural, facial expressions are exaggerated, and small details occasionally fall into the uncanny valley or break rules of logical consistency.
    — Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
  • But closer examination reveals that OpenAI’s proof builds its unnatural force in a totally distinct way.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of unnatural
Noun
  • The immature eccentric initially has no plans to head back to the States, until Christy convinces him to stand tall and fight.
    — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Step inside, though, and you’re transported to a bucolic Britain of rolling hills and village greens, bumbling eccentrics and cute, clever farm animals.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of eccentric
Adjective
  • While Shelby was clearly an exceptional candidate, his success was largely predicated on your failures.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Why the semiconductor industry is interested in diamond One of diamond’s most attractive properties is its exceptional thermal conductivity.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of exceptional
Adjective
  • Aleksandra Karapetrova, an alpine enthusiast and environmental scientist at the University of California, Riverside, used her unique skill set to find that microplastics are present in remote Sierra Nevada mountain snow reachable only on skis.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Air ambulance services, though, come with unique challenges, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.
    — Elaine Appleton-Grant, NPR, 8 Nov. 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 9 Nov. 2026.

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