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
The couple is no stranger to unconventional design decisions.
—
Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Chadwick turned to an unconventional source when traditional engineering approaches hit their limits.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025
Azinger won acclaim for his unconventional approach to the biennial competition between the best players from the United States and the best from Europe.
—Jayson Jenks, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Henry Jaglom, the maverick auteur who crafted deeply intimate and unconventional films that explored the intricacies of relationships and the quirkiness of human behavior, has died.
—Chris Koseluk, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unconventional
Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Chadwick turned to an unconventional source when traditional engineering approaches hit their limits.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025
Azinger won acclaim for his unconventional approach to the biennial competition between the best players from the United States and the best from Europe.
—Jayson Jenks, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Henry Jaglom, the maverick auteur who crafted deeply intimate and unconventional films that explored the intricacies of relationships and the quirkiness of human behavior, has died.
—Chris Koseluk, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unconventional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unconventional
Adjective
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He had been involved in dissident circles since his student days, in the nineties.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Karmitz touted France as a country where a company like mk2 can represent a diverse range of filmmakers, including current films by Iranian, Palestinian, and Russian dissident directors.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But modern dentists are skeptical as to how effective this practice actually is at improving oral health.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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Netflix's modern retelling of the Biblical story of Ruth and Boaz, set in the tiny Tennessee town of Pegram, recently hit the global streaming platform.—
Katie Nixon,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Long sought-after by fans, Electric Nebraska is the informal title of the album that Springsteen and the E Street Band recorded in 1982 from a collection of demos for his follow-up to The River.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Use just one to three large informal dahlias with smaller additions like spray roses, cosmos, eucalyptus, or larkspur.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 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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Advertisement Democrats are also facing pressure from their progressive wing to hold firm after what many saw as a surrender earlier this year, when centrist Democrats joined Republicans to pass a funding extension without concessions.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
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Even progressive critics from the party’s activist wing are applauding Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who are insisting that any government spending package must extend health care subsidies that are set to expire at the year’s end.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 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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DeSantis signed a bill this year preempting local governments from blocking development of a presidential library, aiming to overrule potential opposition in liberal-leaning counties or municipalities.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Lazar will likely face liberal state Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor, a former Democratic state lawmaker from Madison, for the seat Bradley is vacating.—
Mary Spicuzza,
jsonline.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Contemporary art and international cuisine On the city’s southeastern edge, the formerly industrial Porta Romana neighborhood is undergoing a radical transformation as the sustainably minded site of the Olympic Village, where 1,300 athletes will be housed.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
AFAR Media,
3 Oct. 2025
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Republicans quickly consolidated Democrats, Antifa, and trans people into one radical enemy.—
Grace Byron,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unconventional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unconventional. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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