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

Relevance

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 nontraditional Policy solutions should prioritize insurance continuity during the transition into adulthood and implementing universal screening in nontraditional settings, the authors wrote. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 23 June 2026 Additionally, studies have shown tornadoes are happening more often during nontraditional tornado months, lasting longer and beginning sooner as winters become warmer and more humid. — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026 Who knew a nontraditional Big Ten program could overtake the South’s premier venue? — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 18 June 2026 How an Emmy award-winning journalist and his husband turned to nontraditional means to build their family on their own terms. — Sugey Palomares, Parents, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for nontraditional

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nontraditional

Adjective

Throughout his career, Ackman has built a reputation for taking unconventional positions and backing them with conviction—whether making bold investment bets or weighing in on contentious public debates.

— Preston Fore, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
Arraez immediately validated this unconventional strategy, delivering an RBI single and a double in his impressive Phillies debut.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of unconventional

Adjective

Monastiq is an all-day restaurant with a modern take on traditional Czech cuisine, complete with special menus for kids as well as a seasonal selection of dishes.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
Though guests will love the home’s open-concept layout, gourmet kitchen, and modern touches, the great outdoors are the main draw.

— Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of modern

Adjective

Sarah Miller, a software engineer from the liberal stronghold of Madison, has heard all of the chatter about a civil war in the Democratic Party between progressives and moderates.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
As the conservative foil to liberal do-gooder Sandy, his wife Kirsten Cohen (played by Kelly Rowan) was a better representation of the upper-crust Newport Beach population in many ways.

— Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of liberal

Adjective

Downstairs, at Whitney Café, expect contemporary American with a global influence; at the eighth-floor Studio Bar, soups, salads, and light bites rival skyline views through floor-to-ceiling windows.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
What began as a more faithful attempt at recreating Shakespearean verse gradually evolved as the team tried to figure out how to make something that spoke to then-contemporary anxieties.

— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 8 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

For Schoenbrun, though, Kris’s professional setback is an opportunity for her artistic and personal renewal, in the form of radical independence.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 31 July 2026
But recent years have seen a radical shift, as Indian designers are making their presence felt on the global stage.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 30 July 2026

Definition of radical

Browse Nearby Words

nontoxic

nontraditional

nontransferable

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Nontraditional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nontraditional. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of nontraditional

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

pedagogical

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes