ˌən-kən-ˈven(t)-sh(ə-)nəl
1
as in dissident
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices
the Shakers acquired their name because of their unconventional practice of dancing with shaking movements during worship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in modern
not bound by traditional ways or beliefs
had unconventional opinions on the raising of children
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in informal
not rigidly following established form, custom, or rules
young, creative people who lead unconventional but fulfilling lifestyles
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 unconventional
Gilligan may have wanted to write a hero again, but Carol’s brand of heroism couldn’t be more unconventional.
—
Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025
Kourtney Kardashian Barker has added an unconventional product to her growing wellness empire—a probiotic lollipop aimed at supporting women’s vaginal health.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
The resulting storyline explores unconventional exorcism and pagan theology in frightening terms — plus the Doors are rocking on the soundtrack.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
The production has adopted an unconventional approach that sets it apart from typical anime workflows.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unconventional
Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025
Kourtney Kardashian Barker has added an unconventional product to her growing wellness empire—a probiotic lollipop aimed at supporting women’s vaginal health.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
The resulting storyline explores unconventional exorcism and pagan theology in frightening terms — plus the Doors are rocking on the soundtrack.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
The production has adopted an unconventional approach that sets it apart from typical anime workflows.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unconventional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unconventional
Adjective
-
The recipient was the dissident theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who had been imprisoned several months earlier, on account of his opposition to the Nazi regime.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Among them were 17 members of the Iranian dissident organization Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MEK).—
Beth Bailey,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In short, the great task before us is to revisit and reimagine America’s founding fight as a creation story in the making of our modern world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Anyone vaguely near the aesthetic gets christened it by fans, including Bassvictim, who were always funnier and more creative than the other modern electroclash revivalists.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
After an informal question and answer session with several representatives from TCEQ, more than a dozen people stepped to the microphone to deliver comments on the proposal.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Oct. 2025
-
It’s supported education for refugee children, clean water and sanitation, livelihoods for informal waste pickers and funded factory decarbonization initiatives.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Board member Renee Paschall cast the lone dissenting vote on the final package.—
Elizabeth Sander,
San Antonio Express-News,
19 Aug. 2022
-
The document runs to more than a hundred and fifty pages, and for each question there are affirmative and dissenting studies, as well as some that indicate mixed results.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
3 June 2022
Adjective
-
Advertisement Her victory also carries national implications for Democrats, who are struggling to chart a path between progressive energy and centrist caution ahead of the 2026 midterms.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
-
One person familiar with Tuesday’s heated discussion within the caucus says there appears to be at least eight Democratic votes to reopen the government — even though progressive Democratic senators vented their frustration with the potential deal.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
That group — which also included voices from prominent genre brands like Vinegar Syndrome, Fangoria, MPI Media, Alter, and more — toasted not just the scariest cinema but the most out-there media of all kinds.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Every Tuesday, a corner of the Mezquitán market turns into a massive secondhand clothing bazaar, with heaps of statement vintage finds and out-there patterned fabrics spread out over long tables.—
David Shortell,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
From the perspective of a world of increasingly unimaginable maldistribution of resources, cascading ecological collapse, a genocide cheered on by a putatively liberal order, both are barbarisms.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Rodriguez is running in the 21st Assembly District, which is also leans more liberal after the 2024 adoption of new electoral maps.—
Molly Beck,
jsonline.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
In a 30-minute interview, Martin defended how the party has been managing its internal divisions, and pushed back at Republicans who have accused Democrats of embracing violence and radical politics.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Yet Mamdani proposes to turn Gotham into a laboratory for radical economic redistribution and left-wing social engineering.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unconventional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unconventional. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share