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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
The question may seem aberrant, something a dimwit or sadistic mother might ask her charge during toilet training, but Americans do regard living writers as both needlessly and necessarily strange. — Literary Hub, 22 Apr. 2026 At the time, many observers treated his approach as aberrant. — Jack Schlossberg, Fortune, 18 Mar. 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
  • At the recommendation of assistant director of player personnel Jason Stein, the Mets signed Yan to a two-year minor-league deal, an unusual contract for a healthy pitcher.
    — Will Sammon, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Her parents approach sexuality head on, almost with glee, which is certainly unusual for their time and place.
    — Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • In another trial, researchers with the UC San Diego School of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University are also analyzing blood from 84 adult participants with HIV and abnormal levels of body fat buildup.
    — Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The vaccine targets abnormal proteins called neoantigens that appear on the surface of cancer cells.
    — Aria Bendix, NBC news, 19 Aug. 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
  • Building new housing on two islands in San Francisco, one of the hottest housing markets, involved an extraordinary saga.
    — Julie Z. Weil, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2026
  • As his abilities give him access to increasingly sophisticated criminal schemes and extraordinary wealth, he is drawn into a world of luxury, excess and organized cybercrime.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of extraordinary
Adjective
  • The Jackson County District Attorney's office has previously said convening a grand jury does not mean there is any criminality and is standard procedure for most unnatural or suspicious deaths in the county.
    — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Decoteau was there, sipping his beautifully unnatural lemonade.
    — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of unnatural
Noun
  • No documentarian has a better eye for intriguing oddballs than Errol Morris, who built his feature film career on drawing them out in conversation, from pet-cemetery owners in Gates of Heaven to small-town eccentrics in Vernon, Florida.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
  • With its loose ends and digressions, Dream Me a Dream stays true to those idiosyncratic instincts while retaining enough of the welcoming glow of Dance of Love to make this an affecting farewell from an endearing eccentric.
    — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 22 June 2026
Definition of eccentric
Adjective
  • Its exceptional duration results from near-perfect celestial geometry.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Similar to Abrams, the young shortstop had shown a knack for exceptional, highlight-reel plays while struggling with consistency.
    — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of exceptional
Adjective
  • The exterior features unique blue accents and matching blue high-performance brake calipers.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Known for unique design flair, such as the Stellar TV's concrete back mounts, Loewe seeks to establish itself in top luxury destinations, building a global lifestyle ecosystem focused on craftsmanship and innovation.
    — John Archer, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of unique

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aberrant
aberrants
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Cite this Entry

“Aberrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aberrant. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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