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
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Recent Examples of atypical
He was bound for the draft, though, following a pair of All-Big Ten seasons and 19 passes defended across the two — atypical immediate production for a man who transferred from James Madison to the rust belt.
—
Noah White, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
But the issue extends beyond atypical cases such as that one.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for atypical
Noah White, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
But the issue extends beyond atypical cases such as that one.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for atypical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atypical
Adjective
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But, in other respects, your approach to the future might have been unusual, at least by our modern lights.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
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They have also been shown to exhibit play behavior with objects in their enclosures, highly unusual behavior for a reptile.—
Craig Stanford,
Big Think,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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In recent decades, drugs that target these proteins on the surface of tumor cells have been able to slow abnormal growth and control breast, lung, pancreas, and colon cancers involving these genes.—
Alice Park,
Time,
12 May 2026
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Moments later, someone ran by with an AED defibrillator—the portable device helps detect an abnormal heartbeat and can deliver an electrical shock during sudden cardiac arrest.—
Asal Rezaei,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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Both political insurgents were elected under extraordinary circumstances.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
The extraordinary Denis Compton was one of England’s great batters over two decades from the late 1930s to the late 50s but was good enough as a footballer to win the league and FA Cup as a winger with Arsenal.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Adjective
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As real trees begin to bloom outside, photographer Widline Cadet picks through two playfully oversized bouquets of positively unnatural plastic flowers.—
Elly Fishman,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
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Moore is the closest thing going to Jeremiyah Love in terms of an unnatural talent.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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Toulouse pride themselves on a blend of youth and experience in their ranks, but this teenager was exceptional.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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This may seem especially strange given birds’ exceptional vision.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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Spain's double totality One of the most fascinating aspects of this eclipse cycle is Spain's unique position.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
10 May 2026
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The piece comes in four colors to accommodate a variety of home aesthetics, and the unique geometric design on the front panels adds interest to both modern and traditional spaces.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
Adjective
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The loss marked an early end for the Frost, which had previously gone a perfect 6-0 when facing elimination in the PWHL playoffs, and halted the team’s quest for a rare threepeat.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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But the Andes virus detected in the cruise ship outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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The condition is not uncommon and somewhat prevalent in certain breeds like various Spaniels, certain Hounds, some Retrievers, and some giant dog breeds.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
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Learning more about the uncommon, but serious, illness prompted important health conversations.—
Sam Woodward,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Atypical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atypical. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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