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
Engineering immune cells to kill cancer The tumor microenvironment poses a major problem for the immune system’s ability to recognize and destroy abnormal cells, including cancer.
—
Charles J. Dimitroff, The Conversation, 12 June 2026
The snake-like robots wrap around power lines and use onboard cameras and sensors to detect hazards such as damaged wires, worn components, and abnormal temperatures.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 11 June 2026
Sybil, who spent her younger years beleaguered by the presence of her double, that emblem of feminine conformity named Désirée, never manages to perceive herself as anything but abnormal by comparison.
—Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
After an abnormal result on her Pap smear, her doctor brought her back in to check for abnormal tissue.
—Natalie Krebs, NPR, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for abnormal
Charles J. Dimitroff, The Conversation, 12 June 2026
The snake-like robots wrap around power lines and use onboard cameras and sensors to detect hazards such as damaged wires, worn components, and abnormal temperatures.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 11 June 2026
Sybil, who spent her younger years beleaguered by the presence of her double, that emblem of feminine conformity named Désirée, never manages to perceive herself as anything but abnormal by comparison.
—Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
After an abnormal result on her Pap smear, her doctor brought her back in to check for abnormal tissue.
—Natalie Krebs, NPR, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for abnormal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abnormal
Adjective
-
French authorities said unusual betting patterns were detected around a yellow card Wahi received in a Ligue 1 match while playing for Nice last month.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
-
The bar can do classic and pretty, strong and aromatic, familiar and unusual in the same round.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
While there are certain products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
13 June 2026
-
This is fast enough for the robot to react to environmental changes in real time without making its motions feel jerky or unnatural.—
Lee-Lean Shu,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Rice and Elliot Anderson have impressive engines but will carry an extraordinary burden throughout the tournament and need to stay on top of their game and at full intensity throughout.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
Artificial intelligence has changed a whole lot in the past few years because people have started really becoming aware of the extraordinary progress and the extraordinary risks that go with it.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
Industry-specific risk factors driving the crisis include financial precarity—irregular income, lack of benefits, job insecurity—touring conditions, performance pressure, workplace culture and identity fusion.—
Cathy Applefeld Olson,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
Quakes can leave trees standing at irregular angles, uproot them entirely, and disturb their drainage patterns.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Each is 72+ pages long and features an exceptional design printed on premium paper.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 June 2026
-
So to commemorate the occasion, the distillery team decided to release a pair of truly rare and exceptional age statement expressions.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
The overlap between Juneteenth celebrations and World Cup festivities has created a unique opportunity for Kansas City’s Black cultural institutions.—
J.M. Banks
June 20,
Kansas City Star,
20 June 2026
-
The red varieties with burgundy leaves are an excellent contrast to dahlia foliage, and their unique blooms last for weeks in the garden.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 June 2026
Adjective
-
These Knicks will be remembered as champions and as the rare big-market team that became easy to root for.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
Even better, almost all have balconies, which is rare in town.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
Tornadoes are not uncommon in Streator, a small rural town about 100 miles southwest of Chicago.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
-
Todd Sohn, chief ETF strategist at Strategas Securities, says the pattern is familiar, even if the scale is uncommon.—
Krysta Escobar,
CNBC,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abnormal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abnormal. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
