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
In the United States, officials predict a severe fire season in the West at the beginning of the summer, as every state except Michigan and North Dakota is experiencing some level of drought or abnormal dryness.
—
CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Injections of local anesthetics, such as Lidocaine, into the muscles or joints can reduce irritation, muscle spasms and abnormal nerve activities that result in pain.
—Dr. Patricia Richard, Hartford Courant, 14 Apr. 2026
Our clum-siness regarding all things abnormal.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Andrew Rosenberg, former deputy director of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, described the grant delays as abnormal.
—Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abnormal
CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Injections of local anesthetics, such as Lidocaine, into the muscles or joints can reduce irritation, muscle spasms and abnormal nerve activities that result in pain.
—Dr. Patricia Richard, Hartford Courant, 14 Apr. 2026
Our clum-siness regarding all things abnormal.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Andrew Rosenberg, former deputy director of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, described the grant delays as abnormal.
—Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abnormal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abnormal
Adjective
-
The barbed fact is that the woman caught in the middle of this unusual male arrangement benefits from none of their newfound emotional enlightenment.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Trent Richardson and Saquon Barkley are the only running backs who have been drafted in the top three picks in the last two decades of the NFL draft, but Jeremiyah Love joins that group as the Cardinals take the unusual move of drafting a back this high.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
One of the most unnatural things astronauts have experienced is being on the dark side of the Moon and unable to see Earth.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The words feel heavy and unnatural when O'Neal repeats them back to the doctor, like trying to blow a bubble and spitting out rocks instead.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Why Octopuses Can Squeeze Through Incredibly Small Spaces Octopuses have no bones at all, which gives them an extraordinary level of flexibility and control over their bodies.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Apr. 2026
-
After being injected with a mysterious serum, Gabriel gains extraordinary strength, speed, and resilience.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The plan aims at increasing the number of officers deployed on the ground from 907 now to 1,392 for the 2026-2029 period, along with the creation of an additional police unit dedicated to combating irregular migration, funded by France, the French Interior Ministry said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Comprising irregular, curling and warped forms, the bed is crafted from stainless steel, powder coated in pink and black shades, with its design reportedly informed by female eroticism and intuition.—
Francesca Perry,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Michael's exceptional work has earned him numerous accolades from prestigious organisations such as the National Geographic, BBC, Virgin Galactic, Canon and Sony.—
PhotoVogue,
Vogue,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The Lakers are getting exceptional postseason play from Smart, the longtime Celtics guard who joined Los Angeles this season.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Snitker’s story is unique even in a sport that invites unprecedented journeys.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Many of those values are grounded in the idea—axiomatic for Christians—that human beings have a unique dignity and worth.—
Elias Wachtel,
The Atlantic,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Golinski was more confident when the ball met the bat than Kirk was, so there was no posing or admiring the rare shot.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The Latest Estonia’s government criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy over his warning that Russia could be preparing to attack the Baltic states, a rare rebuke from one of Kyiv’s staunchest allies.—
Suzanne Lynch,
Bloomberg,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Now, those stories are far more uncommon.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Power surges are not uncommon; that's why many homes and devices come equipped with surge protection to help protect your appliances and electronics.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abnormal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abnormal. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
