ANOMALOUS Synonyms: 96 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'anomalous' distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words irregular and unnatural are common synonyms of anomalous . While all three words mean "not conforming to rule, law, or custom," anomalous implies not conforming to what might be expected because of the class or type to which it belongs or the laws that govern its existence. // her drive made her an anomalous figure in a sleepy organization

Q: Where would 'irregular' be a reasonable alternative to 'anomalous'?

Although the words irregular and anomalous have much in common, irregular implies not conforming to a law or regulation imposed for the sake of uniformity in method, practice, or conduct. // concerned about his irregular behavior

Q: When is it sensible to use 'unnatural' instead of 'anomalous'?

The meanings of unnatural and anomalous largely overlap; however, unnatural suggests what is contrary to nature or to principles or standards felt to be essential to the well-being of civilized society. // prisoners treated with unnatural cruelty

anomalous

adjective

ə-ˈnä-mə-ləs

Definition of anomalous

as in unusual

being out of the ordinary that was an anomalous year for the housing industry, so the number of starts is anything but typical

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in abnormal

departing from some accepted standard of what is normal an anomalous burst of anger from this usually easygoing person

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word anomalous distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words irregular and unnatural are common synonyms of anomalous. While all three words mean "not conforming to rule, law, or custom," anomalous implies not conforming to what might be expected because of the class or type to which it belongs or the laws that govern its existence.

her drive made her an anomalous figure in a sleepy organization

Where would irregular be a reasonable alternative to anomalous?

Although the words irregular and anomalous have much in common, irregular implies not conforming to a law or regulation imposed for the sake of uniformity in method, practice, or conduct.

concerned about his irregular behavior

When is it sensible to use unnatural instead of anomalous?

The meanings of unnatural and anomalous largely overlap; however, unnatural suggests what is contrary to nature or to principles or standards felt to be essential to the well-being of civilized society.

prisoners treated with unnatural cruelty

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 anomalous So there's an anomalous absence of professional baseball from the Orlando market. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026 In 1870 Bloomsburg received its anomalous status as Pennsylvania’s only official town. — Scott Spires, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Aug. 2026 The surface of the tropical Pacific transforms from a cool spot into a massive pool of anomalous warmth thousands of miles across. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026 There are also weird anomalous results, like the RTX 5050 holding a commanding lead in Doom Dark Ages at Medium 1080p, but the RX 9050 being just as capable at 1440p. — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for anomalous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for anomalous

Adjective

The team now points to interactions between manganese and ytterbium as a possible source of the unusual Hall response.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
The unusual diplomatic rebuke underscored the mistrust between the two countries.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of unusual

Adjective

The membership, which is invite-only, can include procedures like plasma exchange, which involves having your blood removed and separated from harmful substances like abnormal proteins before it is returned to the body.

— Renée Onque, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
Cocaine therefore appears to hijack a normal action-selection system rather than recruit a circuit dedicated to abnormal behavior.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of abnormal

Adjective

This keeps the performance informal and keeps the narrative — a staggering odyssey of injustices, abuses, travel adventures, extraordinary coincidences, losses, reunions, reflections and self-analysis — from becoming sensationalized.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Guadagnino speaks in calligraphy; adjectives almost certainly accompany a proper name — the extraordinary, the wonderful, the genius.

— E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of extraordinary

Adjective

The California Department of Public Health said animals with rabies will often have strange or unnatural behavior.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026
Generated by an internal large language model (LLM), OpenAI’s proof relies on an approach that many experts find unnatural.

— Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of unnatural

Adjective

Her career demonstrates extraordinary range, an exceptional level of acting and at the same time, a very special connection with audiences.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
Nonetheless, the association of Nike with exceptional athletes remains a litmus test for relevance, consumer sentiment, and brand equity — all metrics Hill should be working toward as part of his ongoing brand turnaround.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of exceptional

Adjective

Beat shows how so many of the sounds that were prevalent in the mid-’90s contained a unique, end-of-the century sadness.

— Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
Instead, the self-regulating organization takes the day-to-day lead in devising standards, conducting oversight, enforcing rules, and punishing bad actors, drawing on its business members’ unique knowledge and real-world expertise.

— William R. Gruver, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of unique

Adjective

Children—a rare sight at Trancoso’s small, intimate pousadas but welcome here—are kept busy by a discreet army of private nannies and hotel monitors.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Because Justice Samuel Alito recused himself from the case, an eight-person bench will decide the case for the Supreme Court, leaving open the possibility of a rare 4-4 deadlock.

— Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of rare

Browse Nearby Words

anomalies

anomalous

anomalously

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“Anomalous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anomalous. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of anomalous

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