UNCONVENTIONAL Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

unconventional

adjective

ˌən-kən-ˈven(t)-sh(ə-)nəl

Definition of unconventional

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

as in modern

not bound by traditional ways or beliefs had unconventional opinions on the raising of children

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The Libra Sun trines unconventional Uranus in your partnership zone, opening the door to unusual collaborations and fresh connections. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026 The rock band, known for its unconventional costumes and intentionally offensive lyrics, was nominated for two Grammys, one in 1993 for Best Long Form Music Video and another in 1996 for Best Metal Performance. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026 Every executive understands the career risk of making an unconventional decision. — George Achilleos, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026 The film, a touching adaptation of an 1852 Turgenev short story of the same name, features an unconventional cast directed by a seasoned documentarian. — James Folta, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unconventional

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unconventional

Adjective

Under the Soviet Union, dissident artists, poets and creators distributed their work within small, private networks, according to Ingold.

— Miranda Huang, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Andrei Pivovarov, a dissident and former head of the Open Russia group, addressed a protest gathered outside the building.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of dissident

Adjective

The wall is also fragile and cannot be completely preserved, so archaeologists will use modern technology to create a 3D reconstruction for further study.

— Daniel S. Levine, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
School officials say the roughly 150,000-square-foot facility significantly expands ECC’s capacity to prepare students for careers in advanced manufacturing and other high-demand technical fields, with modern classrooms and labs.

— Rick West, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of modern

Adjective

Gun homicides mostly affect South Africa’s poorest communities in townships and informal settlements made up of shacks and small homes on the edges of big cities.

— Gerald Imray, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
Gun homicides mostly affect South Africa's poorest communities in townships and informal settlements made up of shacks and small homes on the edges of many big cities.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of informal

Adjective

The Fed’s interest rate-setting committee is divided and saw the most dissenting votes in more than three decades last month.

— Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 13 May 2026
Board member Renee Paschall cast the lone dissenting vote on the final package.

— Elizabeth Sander, San Antonio Express-News, 19 Aug. 2022

Definition of dissenting

Adjective

The actor is outspoken about his progressive politics and works closely with many different organizations.

— Carole Horst, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, a Chinese immigrant and chair of the Board of Supervisors’ budget committee, is a progressive backed by labor whose campaign received a major boost from Pelosi’s endorsement.

— Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of progressive

Adjective

The conservative majority did not explain their order, while the three liberal members signed a dissent that said Pike’s claims deserved a closer look.

— Kim Chandler, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Digger is lambasted by his half sister, Emma (Sandra Hüller), a superficially liberal-minded Shiv Roy type, with her own eco-friendly initiative.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of liberal

Adjective

Bartos argues the gathering codified radical anti-Western hatred, antisemitism, and anti-American sentiment, birth-place to the BDS movement.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Balasubramanian suspects that even this kind of radical model doesn’t go far enough.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of radical

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unconventional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unconventional. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of unconventional

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

heterodox

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes