nonmainstream

adjective

Definition of nonmainstreamnext
as in idiosyncratic

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 nonmainstream And when the filibuster threatened to block Gorsuch—that is, when it was poised to accomplish its alleged purpose of thwarting nonmainstream nominees—Republicans killed it. — Mark Joseph Stern, Slate Magazine, 7 Apr. 2017 Assaults against Western targets, churches and nonmainstream Islamic groups have preoccupied Indonesian security agencies for the past 15 years. — Thomas Fuller, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonmainstream
  1. idiosyncratic
  2. out-there
  3. nonconformist
  4. unorthodox
  5. unconventional
  6. outrageous
  7. confounding
Adjective
  • The face is no longer supposed to be something that holds intimate, idiosyncratic human information; it has been reconfigured as a consumer guide and a disciplinary manual.
    — Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 11 July 2026
  • Giulia is idiosyncratic, the expression of a personal worldview.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 July 2026
Definition of idiosyncratic
Adjective
  • The classic straight-leg silhouette is relaxed throughout, providing ease and movement to the style, balancing the more out-there design details.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 28 June 2026
  • The ballerina sneaker trend is just the latest in a line of kooky shoe creations that range from wearable to wildly out-there.
    — Aemilia Madden, Glamour, 18 June 2026
Definition of out-there
Adjective
  • This dogmatic approach to revolutionary citizenship led to the horrible treatment of any perceived as nonconformist, such as LGBTQ people, hippies or punks.
    — Juan Carlos Albarran, The Conversation, 13 July 2026
  • In the end, Levine’s profile of the nonconformist genius reveals just how superb a dancer Cole was.
    — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Definition of nonconformist
Adjective
  • The Royals finish their unorthodox homestand, which was affected by the World Cup, with a rare Monday day game, then hit the road for a series in Baltimore and then New York.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026
  • But McClintock—secular, skeptical, profoundly unorthodox—wasn’t seeking the holy.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 July 2026
Definition of unorthodox
Adjective
  • Built to supply water to the surrounding area, the structure was transformed into a private residence in the early 1980s by local architect Doug Rucker who embraced its unconventional shape rather than alter it.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 18 July 2026
  • The development is a significant step toward expanding future nuclear fuel supply through unconventional uranium resources.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 18 July 2026
Definition of unconventional
Adjective
  • After all, both made their breakthroughs at Barcelona, both play on the right and both possess outrageous natural talent.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • Known for embracing the bizarre, the festival announced Shatner’s addition alongside an intentionally outrageous artist rider that mixes legitimate backstage requests with impossible demands directed at the city of Chicago itself.
    — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
Definition of outrageous
Adjective
  • Grief is one of the most confounding aspects of the human experience.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
  • In 2021, one year into D’Amaro’s tenure and following COVID shutdowns, Disney did away with FastPass and introduced a confounding and very costly series of pay-to-skip passes, which require timing advanced booking of limited slots in these formerly free-to-enter shorter lines.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of confounding

Browse Nearby Words

nonlogical
nonmainstream
nonmalleable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nonmainstream.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonmainstream. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dog days

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All