1
as in unusual
being out of the ordinary
a completely abnormal school day, because half of the kids were out sick
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unnatural
departing from some accepted standard of what is normal
noticed his abnormal breathing and took him to the emergency room
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 abnormal
The robot continuously monitors plant conditions, helping engineers detect gas leaks, abnormal heat signatures, and other operational hazards during routine operations.
—
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 22 May 2026
The need-to-know this morning Relay Therapeutics reported promising Phase 2 data of its drug zovegalisib in a group of rare diseases that cause abnormal vasculature development, sending company shares up 9% in premarket trading.
—Elaine Chen, STAT, 19 May 2026
T cells normally recognize other cells that have been infected by a virus or bacterium, or are otherwise abnormal, and either destroy them or recruit other parts of the immune system to do so.
—Amber Dance, ArsTechnica, 17 May 2026
Redistricting shifted Clyde’s voter base from people who aligned with his gun-toting brand to residents who view guns and election denialism as abnormal.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for abnormal
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 22 May 2026
The need-to-know this morning Relay Therapeutics reported promising Phase 2 data of its drug zovegalisib in a group of rare diseases that cause abnormal vasculature development, sending company shares up 9% in premarket trading.
—Elaine Chen, STAT, 19 May 2026
T cells normally recognize other cells that have been infected by a virus or bacterium, or are otherwise abnormal, and either destroy them or recruit other parts of the immune system to do so.
—Amber Dance, ArsTechnica, 17 May 2026
Redistricting shifted Clyde’s voter base from people who aligned with his gun-toting brand to residents who view guns and election denialism as abnormal.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for abnormal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abnormal
Adjective
-
The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper says spikes in bacteria levels after storms are common, but experts say the duration of the current contamination event is unusual.—
Monique John,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
-
But a true cure is elusive because hepatitis B has an unusual ability to hide in the body, ready to rebound if therapy stops.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
In a nearby tent was Zuhoor Musa Abdul Rahman, a 30-year-old housewife who recounted with unnatural calm the horrors that spurred her to flee El Fasher, a city some 300 miles east of Obeid.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
-
Only Maddie saw the unnatural, violent pull back inside, and most of the scares that follow likewise blur the line between reality and fantasy.—
Elena Lazic,
Variety,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
This show is the record of a traveling salon, a celebration of Morrison’s extraordinary work, and a love letter to reading closely in community.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
-
When enjoyed together, something extraordinary is revealed.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
Symptoms such as stunting, discolored foliage, leaf vein discoloration, and irregular growth commonly occur along with leaf curling.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
-
The bedroom, on a corner of the building, was the shape of an irregular quadrangle.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
At the annual Valedictorians Luncheon at Fenway Park on Tuesday, the mayor, BPS leadership and city officials spoke to the exceptional achievement of the 33 graduates who represented the tops of their classes.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
27 May 2026
-
Executive chef Alessandro Lucassino’s kitchen operates on the principle of letting the exceptional Mediterranean produce speak for itself.—
Jamie Timson,
TheWeek,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Rober sees something even bigger in it — a unique parallel between what Disney built and what creators are building now.—
Jon Youshaei,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
But because Da Nang is on the Central Coast, there’s also some regional dishes there that are pretty unique to that city.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
Aided by a rare Saturday afternoon kick-off time and sunny weather, which allowed fans to line the bars outside the stadium for hours before the game, a coach welcome and a dominant Everton performance, the atmosphere replicated the best of what Goodison had to offer.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
-
Food and drink The on-site restaurant, Dirty Habit, is one of those rare hotel restaurants that also attracts locals, which is always a good sign.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
California’s way of determining which two candidates move from a primary to a general election — the result of Proposition 14 in 2010 — is uncommon.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
Officials said cases over the last seven months have been concentrated in Northern California and the Central Coast, including counties where these mushrooms have historically been uncommon.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abnormal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abnormal. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
