ANOMALY Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

anomaly

noun

ə-ˈnä-mə-lē

Definition of anomaly

as in exception

something that is different from what is ordinary or expected her C grade is an anomaly, as she's never made anything except A's and B's before

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in abnormality

a person, thing, or event that is far from normal snow in July is an anomaly in most of the northern hemisphere

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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 anomaly On its most recent launch, USSF-87, Vulcan experienced an anomaly in one of its solid rocket boosters — the second such incident to occur during the rocket's four launches to date. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 23 July 2026 For a war imposing such radical change on the battlefield, the retention of 60-year-old Oleksandr Syrskyi as Ukraine’s top commander had become an anomaly. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 22 July 2026 The pause comes as a result of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services audits showing payment anomalies in both states, with reviews in California finding certain in-home care programs exceeding national trends in spending. — Bloomberg, Daily News, 21 July 2026 Scientists are more certain that honeybees are magnetoreceptive – researchers have even trained them to discriminate between local magnetic anomalies. — Laura Russo, The Conversation, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for anomaly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for anomaly

Noun

LaFleur has never said much during these conversations, and Thursday’s first day of training camp was no different — with one exception.

— Doug Haller, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Fresh fruit While fresh fruit such as apples and bananas are allowed in carry-on and checked bags when flying within the continental United States per the solid foods rule, there are some key exceptions.

— Fiona Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 July 2026

Definition of exception

Noun

Who the actress is playing has been kept a total mystery, a rarity for the type of movie that often advertises its villains as much as its heroes.

— Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
In addition to breakfast and lunches, the tournament serves dinner — a rarity on the PGA Tour.

— Anya Armentrout, Twin Cities, 25 July 2026

Definition of rarity

Noun

By reading the mutations stacked up in the tumor’s genome as a kind of clock, researchers estimate the lineage has been dividing and passing from clam to clam for more than two centuries, outlasting countless generations of its hosts.

— John Drake, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Some of the mutations the scientists found are obvious adaptations to the sinkhole environment.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 July 2026

Definition of mutation

Noun

Pane and McKay revealed that British actor Simon Pegg will voice the Balrog, a giant demonic monster who helps Sauron forge the One Ring.

— Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Curtis is divorced, and still carries a torch for his ex-wife (Kelsey Scott) — now the governor of Illinois and architect of an innovative monster rehabilitation program with the Candyman (as in the movies) its star participant.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 26 July 2026

Definition of monster

Noun

The 17th year of Mosswood Meltdown at Oakland’s Mosswood Park brought with it a parade of free-thinking freaks on stage and in the crowd that descended on a punker’s picnic paradise for its annual outing of 20 bands over three days last weekend.

— Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
The crowd is packed not only with devoted fans and freaks, but fellow musicians who also emerged from the punk rock underground decades earlier.

— Steve Appleford, SPIN, 20 July 2026

Definition of freak

Browse Nearby Words

anomalousness

anomaly

anon

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“Anomaly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anomaly. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of anomaly

noun

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