atypical

adjective

(ˌ)ā-ˈti-pi-kəl How to pronounce atypical (audio)
Definition of atypicalnext
1
as in unusual
being out of the ordinary the postal service delivered the package with atypical speed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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

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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 As Southern California prepares for yet another heat wave with atypical humidity, thunderstorms broke out across the Southland on Tuesday morning, prompting warnings from local officials. — Austin Turner, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 The prosecution’s experts disagreed, saying Clancy’s description of the voice was atypical of auditory hallucinations. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026 With the team entering a new era with a new coaching staff, Baltimore made some moves that were a bit atypical on roster cutdown day. — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026 O’Flynn was still a student at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and had no idea how atypical this approach was for film acting. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for atypical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atypical
  1. unusual
  2. abnormal
  3. extraordinary
  4. unnatural
  5. exceptional
  6. unique
  7. rare
  8. uncommon
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
Adjective
  • This way of thinking is not uncommon, and it’s not limited to film criticism.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Police noted that mountain lions are not uncommon near the Stanislaus River and other rural pockets around Oakdale but urged residents to stay alert – especially overnight and around dawn and dusk.
    — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of uncommon

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Cite this Entry

“Atypical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atypical. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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