ABERRATION Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

aberration

noun

ˌa-bə-ˈrā-shən

Definition of aberration

as in dementia

a serious mental disorder that prevents one from living a safe and normal life Joan of Arc was certain the voices she had been hearing were not a manifestation of some sort of aberration

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in anomaly

something that is different from what is ordinary or expected there are some slight aberrations in the type due to the nature of old printing presses

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 aberration Nearly half a century onward, Jonestown strikes many people as a bizarre aberration. — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026 There’s not enough space in one letter to describe the aberrations of this president. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026 SteamDB’s data since BeamNG’s release doesn’t indicate that this is attention is an aberration, either. — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 6 Aug. 2026 This lens is made up of 20 elements and two mirrors plus a large-diameter aspherical lens that nips distortion and aberration in the bud. — New Atlas, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aberration

Recent Examples of Synonyms for aberration

Noun

Since expanding from theater into film, writer-director Florian Zeller has specialized in examining the pressure of mental health issues on families — dealing with dementia in The Father and depression in The Son, both based on his plays.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
As in this year’s other notable book about dementia, Ben Lerner’s Transcription, the fritzing out of David’s memory seems primarily like a language disorder.

— Emma Alpern, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of dementia

Noun

If a camera spots an anomaly — the wrong gasket installed on an oven, for example — the system will shut that part of the line down and start playing loud music.

— Andrea Hsu, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026
Those data will either reveal this one event to be an anomaly or uncover more like it.

— Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of anomaly

Noun

Clancy was tried in a Massachusetts court of law, one of the few venues where defendants such as Clancy enjoy the presumption of proof for pleas of insanity, once they are allowed to make such a plea.

— Richard E. Vatz, Baltimore Sun, 6 Sep. 2026
Judge Andy Porter found Tracy Walters not guilty by reason of insanity in the December 2021 killing of Cynthia Cervantes, a social worker and Navy veteran.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of insanity

Noun

The law includes several exceptions, including certain vehicles, medical devices and other equipment.

— Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026
The developers have sought an exception to rules around how much parking can front a nearby boulevard, and will be expected to provide extra landscaping and screening to buffer the parking from nearby properties.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of exception

Noun

The roughly 25-acre farm is also home to a reproduction of the Salem Village Meeting House, the site of many early hearings about the Salem witchcraft hysteria.

— Nicholas DeRenzo, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026
Russia has rejected all accusations of espionage, portraying them as part of anti-Russian hysteria.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of hysteria

Noun

Those with anatomic pulmonary abnormalities or neuromuscular disorders.

— Anna Halkidis, Parents, 2 Sep. 2026
However, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises against using tricyclic antidepressants during pregnancy due to the risk of major congenital abnormalities and other serious problems.

— Isabella Cueto, STAT, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of abnormality

Noun

The durability of Meloni’s coalition has been a rarity in postwar Italy, where governments often have fallen before the end of their mandates.

— Silvia Stellacci, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
The durability of Meloni’s coalition has been a rarity in postwar Italy, where governments have often fallen before the end of their mandates.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of rarity

Browse Nearby Words

aberrated

aberration

aberrational

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“Aberration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aberration. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of aberration

noun

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