1
as in unusual
being out of the ordinary
the marine is being cited for extraordinary courage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uncommon
noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced
no one noticed anything extraordinary about the airline passenger
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 extraordinary
GameStop was at the center of a meme-stock frenzy that erupted roughly five years ago, when retail traders coordinating on online forums drove the shares to extraordinary heights and forced massive short-covering by hedge funds.
—
Yun Li, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026
Beijing has not publicly confirmed espionage allegations, but reports published in Western media describe an extraordinary shakeup within China’s military leadership.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Rails, bridges, tunnels and power lines all face extraordinary stresses, requiring exacting construction, meticulous inspections and continual upkeep.
—Ben Jones, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Like the hotel itself, this party was extra, on an extraordinary scale.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extraordinary
Yun Li, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026
Beijing has not publicly confirmed espionage allegations, but reports published in Western media describe an extraordinary shakeup within China’s military leadership.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Rails, bridges, tunnels and power lines all face extraordinary stresses, requiring exacting construction, meticulous inspections and continual upkeep.
—Ben Jones, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Like the hotel itself, this party was extra, on an extraordinary scale.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extraordinary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extraordinary
Adjective
-
This time hosted against the dramatic architecture of Verona’s Roman Arena, this ceremony will celebrate the achievements of athletes from around the world, setting an unusual precedent of differing from the location of the opening ceremony.—
Sam Leveridge,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The film takes some departures from the visual styles found in Pickford’s other films, invoking an unusual tone of despair while deploying camera angles and lighting akin to German Expressionist cinema.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
That said, hiring bonuses on a smaller scale are not uncommon, appearing in any industry or level where employers perceive an extra boost is needed to attract candidates.—
Amy Lindgren,
Twin Cities,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Benzon said this was uncommon in his experience.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Those with very poor credit scores (between 300 and 579) pay 273% more than those with exceptional credit scores (between 800 and 850), according to data from the insurance comparison site the Zebra.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Historian Timothy Snyder has warned that democracies often die through the normalization of the exceptional—emergency as governance, loyalty as qualification, disinformation as a political tool.—
Alejandro Reyes,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Nonetheless, Sasaki and Murakami don’t qualify for the strangest request from a new signing in MLB.—
Jordy Fee-Platt,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
As a listening experience, African Skies is a mix of the familiar and the strange.—
Mark Richardson,
Pitchfork,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The American Culture Quiz is a weekly test of our unique national traits, trends, history and people — including current events and the sights and sounds of the United States.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
-
And beyond price, simply finding something unique keeps shoppers coming back.—
Mari Sato The Dallas Morning News,
Arkansas Online,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
His sharp, funny, and unexpectedly comforting voice makes the book a joy to read and turns what could feel grim into something liberating.—
Jasna Hodžić,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Roy Keane is clearly a very funny character who everyone is scared of… Then Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville are just absolutely filled with football.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Zoo officials described the birth as a rare and joyful milestone not only for the National Zoo, but for Asian elephant conservation more broadly.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Brook is a rare talent who looks destined to become one of England’s finest ever batters.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s a weird kind of rigor that results from going through something that many times.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The Emmy-winning host ended last season with a telethon auctioning off weird memorabilia from previous episodes of the show.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extraordinary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extraordinary. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
