ATYPICAL Synonyms: 96 Similar and Opposite Words

atypical

adjective

(ˌ)ā-ˈti-pi-kəl

Definition of atypical

as in unusual

being out of the ordinary the postal service delivered the package with atypical speed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in abnormal

departing from some accepted standard of what is normal since that's an atypical response for an infant, you might want to have her hearing tested

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 atypical An atypical ice giant Compared with its neighboring planets, Uranus is quite the outlier. — Micah Hanks, Space.com, 28 Sep. 2026 Elizabeth Taylor got ready in atypical fashion, almost backwards. — Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Sep. 2026 In that setting, Galloway’s performance during the solo section is more more athletic than the lead guitar part, a tactic which is a tad atypical in country. — Tom Roland, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2026 Cazares’ far-off next court date, not until 2028, is not atypical, Meinecke said, given the backlog of cases in the fallout of the blitz. — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for atypical

Recent Examples of Synonyms for atypical

Adjective

Six months after Vincent’s suicide, Theo died from the ravages of syphilis, leaving Jo a young widow with a baby to support, not much money, and an unusual inheritance—Vincent’s paintings—more than 400 in total.

— Joan Martelli, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
While his neighbors weren’t alarmed enough by the unusual sight to call security, Abrams wasn’t as lucky during filming at Radford Studios in Studio City.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of unusual

Adjective

According to MedlinePlus, normal pressure hydrocephalus is an abnormal or excessive buildup of cerebrospinal fluid around the brain, which can impact brain function, cause walking or gait changes, or incontinence.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
About one in 10 screening mammograms come back abnormal, but roughly 90% of those findings turn out to be benign.

— Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of abnormal

Adjective

View gallery - 4 images For all the extraordinary things that consumer 3D printers can produce, changing color has remained a surprisingly messy business.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
Explore its waterfalls, glaciers and volcanic landscapes, and treat any aurora sightings as an extraordinary bonus.

— Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of extraordinary

Adjective

That amounts to unchecked growth resulting in relatively dense stands, which are unnatural for this part of the country — despite becoming a familiar sight to Coloradans over the last few decades.

— John Wenzel, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2026
The California Department of Public Health said animals with rabies will often have strange or unnatural behavior.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of unnatural

Adjective

When machines can instantly replicate the average, the only true moat is the exceptional.

— Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
The Brewers have an exceptional amount of talent too, and Murphy's routine of pretending like his team is a bunch of humble farmers who were playing stickball out back a few days ago is absurd and offensive.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of exceptional

Adjective

But only United States has this unique intelligence to say, to tell us, to tell our side when Russia uses ballistic missiles.

— NBC news, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2026
Revamping a historic building with unique architecture has posed some difficulties, said Karademas.

— Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of unique

Adjective

This collective nature has a layering effect, telegraphing a specific sense of style and humanity increasingly rare in the world of contemporary hotels.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
Expect to see rare bottles pulled from the shelves and all manner of weird and wonderful concoctions offered up from the menu and from their encyclopedic knowledge of drinks.

— Condé Nast, cntraveler.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of rare

Adjective

Although chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy is now standard treatment for advanced SCLC, long-lasting responses remain uncommon.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
Most theme puzzles contain sets that are visually identifiable to solvers because of either the arrangement of their entries or an uncommon clue feature like italics or brackets.

— Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of uncommon

Browse Nearby Words

atwitter

atypical

atypically

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Atypical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atypical. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of atypical

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fervid

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes