Synonyms of uncanny

uncanny

adjective

ˌən-ˈka-nē 

1

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

• mysterious
• cryptic
• mystic
• enigmatic
• obscure
• unexplainable
• deep
• dark
• inscrutable
• ambiguous
• murky
• mystical
• vague
• occult
• arcane
• impenetrable
• confusing
• metaphysical
• inexplicable
• fuzzy
• esoteric
• incomprehensible
• supernatural
• shadowy
• unfathomable
• imponderable
• unintelligible
• unaccountable
• unknowable
• darkling
• equivocal
• puzzling
• baffling
• perplexing
• unanswerable
• numinous
• unsearchable
• confounding
• recondite
• disorienting
• abstruse
• bewildering
• mystifying
• befuddling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• understandable
• intelligible
• apparent
• obvious
• evident
• unmistakable
• clear
• manifest
• palpable
• unequivocal
• fathomable
• unambiguous
• plain
• straightforward
• transparent
• perspicuous
• open-and-shut
• patent

2

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

• superhuman
• miraculous
• magical
• remarkable
• strange
• unique
• supernatural
• phenomenal
• transcendental
• bizarre
• eerie
• outstanding
• peculiar
• unearthly
• preternatural
• transcendent
• supernormal
• curious
• unusual
• marvelous
• rare
• uncommon
• weird
• grotesque
• unnatural
• puzzling
• singular
• funny
• outrageous
• baffling
• quirky
• perplexing
• striking
• freakish
• quaint
• idiosyncratic
• outlandish
• shocking
• wacky
• fantastic
• confounding
• prodigious
• kinky
• atypical
• out-of-the-way
• outré
• queer
• screwy
• unconventional
• notable
• mystifying
• unwonted
• bewildering
• aberrant
• noticeable
• far-out
• conspicuous
• way-out
• salient
• wild
• unorthodox
• freak
• prominent
• queerish
• flaky
• uncustomary

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ordinary
• usual
• typical
• average
• commonplace
• prosaic
• everyday
• familiar
• routine
• garden
• unremarkable
• predictable
• unexceptional
• common
• expected
• frequent
• workaday
• customary
• regular
• run-of-the-mill
• habitual
• wonted

3

as in eerie

fearfully and mysteriously strange or fantastic

uncanny and unexpected shadows along the mountainsides

Synonyms & Similar Words

• eerie
• haunting
• creepy
• weird
• spooky
• unearthly
• bizarre
• unusual
• mysterious
• spectral
• terrifying
• spookish
• uncommon
• ghostly
• odd
• curious
• peculiar
• ghoulish
• quirky
• ghastly
• ghostlike
• quaint
• outlandish
• supernatural
• enigmatic
• metaphysical
• outré
• puzzling
• horrible
• preternatural
• terrible
• horrifying
• inscrutable
• unaccustomed
• queerish
• fearsome
• dreadful

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• common
• normal
• ordinary
• usual
• typical
• commonplace
• everyday
• natural
• routine
• prosaic
• unremarkable
• familiar
• unexceptional
• predictable
• expected

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

Recent Examples of uncanny

Others are humanlike avatars that can smile, blink and nod their heads — albeit in a slightly uncanny manner. — Sophie Caldwell juhohn Lee, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026

That uncanny feeling of wandering through left-behind cities has made for its own niche tourist appeal, and natural elements that overtake these towns in the absence of human residents add another layer of intrigue. — Charlotte Collins, Architectural Digest, 15 Sep. 2026

Each one of her novels presents a different setting and dynamic, but her oeuvre is unified by careful thought, sharp style, and an uncanny ability to make the pages want to turn. — Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026

To trace the bloc of states where over 50% of religious congregation members were Baptist or Methodist was to trace the region’s boundaries with uncanny precision. — John Hayes, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2026

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