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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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
That’s nothing new, but the way in which the new installation will do so is rather unconventional—through mannequins dressed in flowers.
—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
2 July 2026
Dancers are turning to each other for support and professional favors, and are performing in unconventional venues, including art galleries.
—
Steven Vargas,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
The track plays out over unconventional percussion and guitars that call back to 1990s post-grunge, with Mateyunas as the centerpiece.
—
Josh Crutchmer,
Rolling Stone,
30 June 2026
Youth sports are widely popular and can be a key reason why students and families choose conventional schools over unconventional alternatives.
—
Kerry McDonald,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unconventional
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
2 July 2026
Dancers are turning to each other for support and professional favors, and are performing in unconventional venues, including art galleries.
—
Steven Vargas,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
The track plays out over unconventional percussion and guitars that call back to 1990s post-grunge, with Mateyunas as the centerpiece.
—
Josh Crutchmer,
Rolling Stone,
30 June 2026
Youth sports are widely popular and can be a key reason why students and families choose conventional schools over unconventional alternatives.
—
Kerry McDonald,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unconventional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unconventional
Adjective
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Five long-standing Iranian dissident groups, including PJAK, the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Freedom Party, had formed an alliance, Reuters also reported.
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Dislocation from tariffs, onshoring, war, oil, and supply shocks present opportunities for dissident shareholders to show laggards the way.
Adjective
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Given modern advances, many organizations are turning towards auto-triaging by AI services and other digital tools to help ease the burden for physicians.
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One non-negotiable of the modern footballer is good coffee.
Adjective
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Authorities are also investigating the death of a Malawian man after he was allegedly killed by a mob at an informal settlement in the city of Pietermaritzburg, near Durban.
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It is joined by an adjoining family room and informal dining area.
Adjective
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Board member Renee Paschall cast the lone dissenting vote on the final package.
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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.
Adjective
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According to the report, the boy first developed progressive facial numbness and tingling on the right side of his face, followed by loss of appetite, painful swallowing and vomiting.
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But its original progressive elements have not only lasted, but become the law of the entire land — from sea to shining sea.
Adjective
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The classic straight-leg silhouette is relaxed throughout, providing ease and movement to the style, balancing the more out-there design details.
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The ballerina sneaker trend is just the latest in a line of kooky shoe creations that range from wearable to wildly out-there.
Adjective
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Some prominent liberal legal scholars even attempted to defend substantive-due-process rights using originalist and textualist methods.
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In a stark move, liberal Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor directly criticized Thomas' claim in a joint opinion.
Adjective
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Its faith that people can rebuild their lives and start over feels almost radical today.
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That being said, the use of such transcripts requires a radical rethinking of the evidentiary landscape and the role of juror psychology.
Cite this Entry
“Unconventional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unconventional. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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