NONTRADITIONAL Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

nontraditional

adjective

ˌnän-trə-ˈdish-nəl

Definition of nontraditional

as in unconventional

not bound by traditional ways or beliefs a nontraditional couple who are planning a very unconventional wedding

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 nontraditional Ferdon detailed how the crypto currency exchange became one of the biggest brands in the emerging world of nontraditional finance and banking options. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 3 July 2026 To remain tuition-free, Miss Major Middle is launching as a microschool, a nontraditional educational model gaining traction nationwide. — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026 BabyCenter's annual report on declining names found that nontraditional spellings — such as Charleigh, Alivia, Maddison and Emmitt —have seen a sharp fall in popularity. — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 Many sectors outside of those that necessitate in-person attendance have seen greater prevalence of nontraditional modes of work; however, most notably finance, healthcare administration, tech, and, to a lesser degree, education. — Lyssanoel Frater, jsonline.com, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for nontraditional

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nontraditional

Adjective

Middlemarch George Eliot’s unconventional Victorian novel upends expectations while crafting a complex portrait of family and individual life in fictional Middlemarch, North Loamshire.

— Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
In it, Leó, a renowned geriatrician specialized in Alzheimer’s disease, develops an unconventional friendship with Ásdís, a psychiatrist who’s returned to Iceland to care for her ailing grandmother.

— Annika Pham, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of unconventional

Adjective

There’s a keen juxtaposition of the old and the modern throughout this part of Edinburgh, where buildings made of ancient volcanic sandstone accommodate hip boutiques like record store Underground Solu'shn and coffee shops like The Milkman.

— Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
Okuyama emphasizes a focus on lightweight construction and a direct human connection, using traditional craftsmanship alongside modern tech.

— Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of modern

Adjective

Americans and Europeans who identify as leftist or liberal tend to have fewer children than those who identify as conservative or right-leaning.

— Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026
The three finalists are liberal strongholds surrounded by the type of suburban areas that have become increasingly important to the party in recent elections.

— Mike Catalini, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of liberal

Adjective

Black Americans were struggling against the legacy of Jim Crow, and Abdeen interned with Ernest Goodman, a civil-rights lawyer who was reviving the National Lawyers Guild, a collective of progressive legal professionals.

— Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
Several political programs returned to the chart this quarter, including Mark Levin Podcast, Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar, The David Pakman Show, Pivot, and Piers Morgan Uncensored, spanning both progressive and conservative audiences.

— Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of progressive

Adjective

Though the building is clearly old (it was built in 1913), its shutters are a curiously contemporary shade of blue, sitting brightly next to the terra-cotta roof.

— Megan Rose Murray, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
The hard-edge suitcase is now a coffee table that sits in the living room between the wood-burning fireplace and a sofa that’s the only significant piece of contemporary furniture.

— Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of contemporary

Adjective

There are craft vintages from more than two dozen nonconventional fruits, like elderberries, peaches, quince, plums, and strawberries.

— Annie Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2026
But Magen David Adom’s dispatch unit in Ramla, about 12 miles southeast of Tel Aviv, is more than 100 feet underground, safeguarded by thick walls and a sophisticated respirator system capable of providing clean air in case of conventional and nonconventional attacks.

— Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 4 Mar. 2026

Definition of nonconventional

Adjective

The Khmer Rouge group that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979 was accused of genocide for causing the deaths of so many countrymen from executions, starvation and lack of medical care due to its radical policies.

— Sopheng Cheang, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
Legalization makes that imagery easy to flatten, but Frankie lighting a joint in that guy’s driveway still feels like a radical act.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of radical

Browse Nearby Words

nontoxic

nontraditional

nontransferable

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“Nontraditional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nontraditional. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of nontraditional

adjective

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