UNCANNY Synonyms: 167 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'uncanny' distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words eerie and weird are common synonyms of uncanny . While all three words mean "mysteriously strange or fantastic," uncanny implies disquieting strangeness or mysteriousness. // an uncanny resemblance between total strangers

Q: In what contexts can 'eerie' take the place of 'uncanny'?

The words eerie and uncanny are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, eerie suggests an uneasy or fearful consciousness that mysterious and malign powers are at work. // an eerie calm preceded the bombing raid

Q: When would 'weird' be a good substitute for 'uncanny'?

Although the words weird and uncanny have much in common, weird may imply an unearthly or supernatural strangeness or it may stress peculiarity or oddness. // weird creatures from another world

uncanny

adjective

ˌən-ˈka-nē

Definition of uncanny

as in mysterious

being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain a number of uncanny parallels in the lives of the twins who had been separated at birth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in superhuman

being so extraordinary or abnormal as to suggest powers which violate the laws of nature an uncanny gift for knowing when someone, no matter how distant, needed help

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in eerie

fearfully and mysteriously strange or fantastic uncanny and unexpected shadows along the mountainsides

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word uncanny distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words eerie and weird are common synonyms of uncanny. While all three words mean "mysteriously strange or fantastic," uncanny implies disquieting strangeness or mysteriousness.

an uncanny resemblance between total strangers

In what contexts can eerie take the place of uncanny?

The words eerie and uncanny are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, eerie suggests an uneasy or fearful consciousness that mysterious and malign powers are at work.

an eerie calm preceded the bombing raid

When would weird be a good substitute for uncanny?

Although the words weird and uncanny have much in common, weird may imply an unearthly or supernatural strangeness or it may stress peculiarity or oddness.

weird creatures from another world

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 uncanny In a new video, the 13-year-old royal drew an uncanny likeness to his grandmother—down to her mannerisms. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026 Medasin also used basic prompts to generate his own Treblo creations that bore uncanny similarities to the single. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026 In an uncanny bit of timing, this week (Friday, to be exact) is also the one-year anniversary of Paramount’s merger with Skydance. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026 Some of the most memorable photographs take us into the uncanny. — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for uncanny

Recent Examples of Synonyms for uncanny

Adjective

But when they’re interrupted by the arrival of a mysterious beige van — the same one viewers may have spotted in the preceding episodes — Bret uses the opportunity to ask Terry to take him home.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Final Invasion begins when a mysterious UAP satellite crashes in the New Mexico desert.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of mysterious

Adjective

So a team at Anthropic thought Claude, free of mortality and blessed with superhuman invulnerability to boredom, should have a go.

— Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026
But what’s interesting is that there are situations (not necessarily applicable here) where a car with superhuman physics abilities could take steps a human could not.

— Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of superhuman

Adjective

Then, after a series of eerie harbingers, the Platts discover the power and water in the house have shut off in the aftermath of an intense storm, and the atmosphere outside has turned unsettling and oddly tropical.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026
In Greenwich Park, with views of the River Thames and central London, the sky turned an eerie gray as a sliver of light sat atop the moon like a hat.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of eerie

Adjective

In response to a cryptic message, Hal rockets to Rushville—literally, because his ring gives him the power of flight—arriving to a murder scene and leaving a confused John to follow by plane.

— Judy Berman, Time, 14 Aug. 2026
The messaging was somewhat cryptic, but that was his way of saying goodbye.

— Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of cryptic

Adjective

For buildings like Mount Gilead to be built and continue to prosper for over 100 years is a miraculous feat, Thompson said.

— Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Aug. 2026
However, given the legal limitations, studies like the Stanford one are observational and limited to small groups, and the science behind ibogaine’s supposedly miraculous workings remains thin.

— Michelle Lhooq, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of miraculous

Adjective

There’s nothing more haunting than walking on those beautiful soundstages that are ghost towns.

— Antonio Ferme, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026
Despite lingering radiation, Pripyat draws photographers and history enthusiasts eager to witness one of the most complete—and haunting—portraits of a city abruptly frozen.

— Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 27 July 2026

Definition of haunting

Adjective

The piece, inspired by the 12th-century polymathic mystic Saint Hildegard of Bingen, was skin-tinglingly breathy and slow, with long tones (played by Malone and her accompanist Stephen O’Malley) that rose up and swirled around the room.

— Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Poetry of a Hindu mystic Kashmir gradually became a predominantly Muslim society after the Shah Mir dynasty came to power in the 14th century.

— Peter Dziedzic, The Conversation, 30 July 2026

Definition of mystic

Adjective

In the middle of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake, the islands are a magical landscape where locals and pilgrims connect with ancient spirits at a sacred waterfall.

— Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Fried practices art history and criticism as a poetic, almost magical endeavor.

— Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of magical

Browse Nearby Words

uncanniness

uncanny

uncaring

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Uncanny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uncanny. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of uncanny

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on uncanny

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

oxymoron

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'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?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes