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
Gen Alpha is gaining steam as a force of unconventional entrepreneurship in the economy.
—
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 June 2026
But Taylor’s unconventional style also gave her an edge.
—Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
This partnership between Prada and Axiom Space shouldn’t come as a complete surprise to its industry peers, Lorenzo Bertelli said, given the brand’s renown for the unconventional.
—Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 8 June 2026
The relationship sticks and the pair goes on to track down all manner of nasty killers with a combination of unconventional techniques and good police work.
—Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unconventional
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 June 2026
But Taylor’s unconventional style also gave her an edge.
—Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
This partnership between Prada and Axiom Space shouldn’t come as a complete surprise to its industry peers, Lorenzo Bertelli said, given the brand’s renown for the unconventional.
—Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 8 June 2026
The relationship sticks and the pair goes on to track down all manner of nasty killers with a combination of unconventional techniques and good police work.
—Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unconventional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unconventional
Adjective
-
The striped abstract paintings throughout the installation are based on polo shirts worn by Cuban state security agents who blend into crowds during protests, while gladiolus flowers reference the Ladies in White dissident movement.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
-
These included eight members of Iranian dissident organization People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOE/MEK) and 24 participants in Iran’s January 2026 protests.—
Beth Bailey,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
The current Congress has set a modern record for the use of this GOP leadership-defying maneuver — resulting in the passage of a Ukraine aid bill and a worker contracts bill during this month alone.—
Nicholas Wu,
semafor.com,
16 June 2026
-
Most daily driving distances are short enough for modern battery EVs.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
The largely informal opposition had consisted mainly of local cities that warned another sales tax would disproportionately burden the poorest residents and force shoppers across the county border in hopes of finding lower costs.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
An informal settlement is a residential area where housing units have been constructed without official rights to the land.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
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
-
And the man who held the keys to that arsenal just happened to be one of the most progressive presidents black America has ever known.—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
-
While promoting the book, Warnock faced pushback from a top Republican who disagrees with his progressive ideals about religion and the role of government.—
Tia Mitchell,
AJC.com,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
This is also by far the coolest crowd at the festival, a sea of designer outfits, out-there silhouettes, fresh haircuts, and even bouquets of flowers.—
E.R. Pulgar,
SPIN,
10 June 2026
-
Inevitably, this information vacuum has encouraged some pretty out-there speculation.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
The angle latched on elsewhere in government and liberal circles around Europe, including Germany.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
16 June 2026
-
Rambling usually ignores it when Dean Cain posts one of his tirades against liberal Hollywood.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
In some respects, Penryn is the ideal setting for such a radical experiment to take place.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
But for somebody who has alternative therapies, how scared are people of doing something as radical as editing their genome?—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unconventional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unconventional. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
