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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in modern
not bound by traditional ways or beliefs
had unconventional opinions on the raising of children
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in informal
not rigidly following established form, custom, or rules
young, creative people who lead unconventional but fulfilling lifestyles
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unconventional
And while anyone growing up in 1970s-era New York City was exposed to new types of art and style and fashion, Kravitz’s unconventional upbringing—surrounded by leading figures of the creative set—gave him a front-row seat to that cultural flowering.
—
Jazmine Hughes, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2025
Screenings in unconventional settings are part of the festival’s tradition.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
My former ob-gyn had the unconventional practice of ordering routine ultrasounds as part of preventative care.
—Ronnie Koenig, SELF, 9 Oct. 2025
The Dodgers did not pounce on Nola, allowing the Phillies’ unconventional pitching plan to work to perfection.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unconventional
Jazmine Hughes, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2025
Screenings in unconventional settings are part of the festival’s tradition.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
My former ob-gyn had the unconventional practice of ordering routine ultrasounds as part of preventative care.
—Ronnie Koenig, SELF, 9 Oct. 2025
The Dodgers did not pounce on Nola, allowing the Phillies’ unconventional pitching plan to work to perfection.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unconventional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unconventional
Adjective
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Human rights in Russia will suffer if the surveillance of dissident activity ramps up, and those seeking alternative means of communicating will stand out even more as regime-threatening anomalies.—
Justin Sherman,
The Atlantic,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Tucker Carlson, the one-time cable news king now moonlighting as a dissident podcaster, has evinced an unhealthy obsession with the Jewish people and the state of Israel.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But one scholar, Anthony Grafton, who about thirty years ago published Forgers and Critics, focused on how in the early modern period, there was this enormous flourishing not only of culture but also of liars.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
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The program features hits from the ’70s, such as The Beatles, Billy Joel, Elvis and The Carpenters, with modern twist.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The venue’s intimacy, coupled with a more informal, speakeasy vibe, permeated an award ceremony that was notable for its moments of laughter and easy congeniality.—
Leila Cobo,
Billboard,
17 Oct. 2025
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The Covid-19 pandemic meant that the research was slow to get off the ground and, more crucially, informal conversations Adamala had with colleagues in other fields, at conferences and other forums, began to sow alarm.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Board member Renee Paschall cast the lone dissenting vote on the final package.—
Elizabeth Sander,
San Antonio Express-News,
19 Aug. 2022
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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
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Its politics tend to be a battle between center-left and progressive factions, subsidized by the stratospheric wealth of policy-shaping tech and real-estate billionaires.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
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Political observers say Sheffield’s achievements are notable for a council member who was more progressive and radical in her ideas in a city with a strong-mayor form of government and law department that serves both the mayor and the council.—
Violet Ikonomova,
Freep.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Just like the Nômade property in Tulum, Nômade Temple Holbox is mindfulness focused to the core, offering experiences ranging from introductory yoga classes to more out-there wellness experiences like lucid dreaming sound journeys.—
Carley Rojas Ávila,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But opposing defense spending, including the troop pay authorized by the legislation, would create bad optics and the latest attack line for Republicans to paint their liberal colleagues as obstructionists.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Oct. 2025
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That was under a government led by the founders of the state, and much lionized by liberal Zionists.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The Royal Institute of Architects (RIBA) praised its radical reimagining of the traditional almshouse, turning the senior housing project into something special.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
17 Oct. 2025
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Working within the rigid studio system of 1960s Japan, Suzuki broke every rule in the book, turning out wild gangster movies packed with pop-art color, absurd humor and radical editing.—
Lise Pedersen,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unconventional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unconventional. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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