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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of atypical
She was diagnosed with an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) four weeks later.
—
Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
Incredible displays of competence and poise under pressure hold the film’s plot, but Red October’s leading men are thoughtful and introspective in the quiet moments, which feels atypical for the genre.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
He could’ve been put to death because the people in charge didn’t want to consider any kind of atypical behavior as anything more than evidence of a nefarious mind.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 12 Apr. 2026
Testimony by Termini and Miles is intended to directly rebut DraftKings’ assertions and to help convince Judge Pratt that DraftKings’ use of NCAA trademarks is atypical, unauthorized and warranting of a TRO.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atypical
Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
Incredible displays of competence and poise under pressure hold the film’s plot, but Red October’s leading men are thoughtful and introspective in the quiet moments, which feels atypical for the genre.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
He could’ve been put to death because the people in charge didn’t want to consider any kind of atypical behavior as anything more than evidence of a nefarious mind.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 12 Apr. 2026
Testimony by Termini and Miles is intended to directly rebut DraftKings’ assertions and to help convince Judge Pratt that DraftKings’ use of NCAA trademarks is atypical, unauthorized and warranting of a TRO.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atypical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atypical
Adjective
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The barbed fact is that the woman caught in the middle of this unusual male arrangement benefits from none of their newfound emotional enlightenment.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
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Trent Richardson and Saquon Barkley are the only running backs who have been drafted in the top three picks in the last two decades of the NFL draft, but Jeremiyah Love joins that group as the Cardinals take the unusual move of drafting a back this high.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The hallucinogen is known to raise the risk of abnormal heart rhythms and rates and could cause vomiting.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
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Lara’s pre-operative test results were abnormal, and revealed clear signs of keratoconus, making LASIK unsuitable.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Why Octopuses Can Squeeze Through Incredibly Small Spaces Octopuses have no bones at all, which gives them an extraordinary level of flexibility and control over their bodies.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Apr. 2026
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After being injected with a mysterious serum, Gabriel gains extraordinary strength, speed, and resilience.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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One of the most unnatural things astronauts have experienced is being on the dark side of the Moon and unable to see Earth.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
19 Apr. 2026
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The words feel heavy and unnatural when O'Neal repeats them back to the doctor, like trying to blow a bubble and spitting out rocks instead.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Michael's exceptional work has earned him numerous accolades from prestigious organisations such as the National Geographic, BBC, Virgin Galactic, Canon and Sony.—
PhotoVogue,
Vogue,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The Lakers are getting exceptional postseason play from Smart, the longtime Celtics guard who joined Los Angeles this season.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Snitker’s story is unique even in a sport that invites unprecedented journeys.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
26 Apr. 2026
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Many of those values are grounded in the idea—axiomatic for Christians—that human beings have a unique dignity and worth.—
Elias Wachtel,
The Atlantic,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Golinski was more confident when the ball met the bat than Kirk was, so there was no posing or admiring the rare shot.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
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The Latest Estonia’s government criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy over his warning that Russia could be preparing to attack the Baltic states, a rare rebuke from one of Kyiv’s staunchest allies.—
Suzanne Lynch,
Bloomberg,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Now, those stories are far more uncommon.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Power surges are not uncommon; that's why many homes and devices come equipped with surge protection to help protect your appliances and electronics.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Atypical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atypical. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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