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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 There are several advanced monitoring components: • Outlier Detection: Flags anomalous predictions that may be unreliable for production use, particularly important given the noisy nature of real-world data. Neel Sendas, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025 Rather than following a foreign policy that ignores values altogether, Trump has a clear preference for values that are, in the American context, historically anomalous or—to put it in less neutral terms—bad. Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 16 May 2025 Once deployed, ongoing monitoring is vital, incorporating alerts for anomalous behavior and clear incident-response strategies, including emergency rollback procedures. Omar Turner, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025 In a sense, the Kentucky Derby is to overall horse racing what the NCAA Tournament is to the men’s college basketball regular season: An anomalous cultural phenomenon that seems largely immune to the middling, at best, overall popularity of the underlying sport. Mark Story, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for anomalous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anomalous
Adjective
  • James Hurley gives a moving performance at the Road House outside of Twin Peaks, and learns of an unusual vision experienced by his cockney co-worker at Great Northern security, Freddie, who will defend James from the attack of a jealous husband with a most unusual strength-enhancing glove.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 20 June 2025
  • Now, another unusual way to grab hiring managers attention is going viral: Sneaking your resume into a box of donuts.
    Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • Alzheimer’s Disease is characterized by the presence of beta-amyloid, an abnormal substance which form sticky plaques on the brain which may result in death of brain cells.
    Robert Glatter, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • Mice studies suggest that activating these receptors may cut off oxygen supply to the retina, promoting the abnormal blood vessel growth that leads to nAMD.
    Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • Such an extraordinary move could undermine the current Fed chief and intensify the uncertainty that has bedeviled the US economy since Trump took office, former Fed officials and academics tell CNN.
    Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
  • These bargain hunters will sometimes go to extraordinary lengths to find a deal.
    Linnea Geiss, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Because the bear started seeking out an unnatural food source, it was euthanized for safety reasons, officials said.
    Helena Wegner, Idaho Statesman, 27 June 2025
  • For too long, sunscreen hasn’t worked for melanin-rich skin—leaving behind white casts, greasy residue, or an unnatural gray tint.
    Essence, Essence, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Danny Boyle is a director known for his exceptional use of music to score key — and now iconic — scenes in his films.
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 25 June 2025
  • This year’s lineup showcases an exceptional slate of films representing both the Hudson region and international perspectives, reflecting the festival’s belief in the unifying power of cinema.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • Bo's Bird Dogs are actually chicken tenders dressed up like a dog, giving it a unique Carolina twist.
    Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 24 June 2025
  • Unlike traditional computing, which processes information in binary sequences, quantum computing harnesses the unique properties of quantum mechanics—superposition, entanglement and tunneling—to process complex information in entirely new ways.
    Markus Pflitsch, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • And years after contracting measles, people can later develop subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, or SSPE, a rare but fatal complication resulting from a weakened form of the virus remaining in the body, and later infecting the brain.
    Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
  • So in our history, this is very rare, and the localization of that kind of violence, to me, is what’s different and new in many ways about this.
    Fiction Non Fiction June 26, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • Personal journey: Arriving in Miami from Cuba as a teenager, Arnaz initially worked odd jobs before reinventing himself as a musician, leading to a successful career that included collaborations with notable band leaders and performances in New York and Miami Beach.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 21 June 2025
  • In the video, Boone is in debt $10 million to his record label and has to raise enough cash to pay them back doing odd jobs.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Anomalous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anomalous. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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