ˌən-ik-ˈsep-sh(ə-)nəl
as in normal
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events
the physicist, now regarded as one of the brightest minds in science, was an unexceptional student as a child
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 unexceptional
The Citizen: This is a character who is normal in every possible way, living an unexceptional life, who makes a morally dubious choice that leads them down The Path Of No Return.
—
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Aaron Rodgers has plenty to prove heading into the Pittsburgh Steelers' season opener after a rather unexceptional 2024 from both a team and an individual perspective.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
The kitchen is … perfectly unexceptional and very studio size.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 28 July 2025
Left exposed, Lebanon could not prevent Iran from projecting its power through Hezbollah, which evolved from its original state as an unexceptional guerilla force into a highly professional and well-armed paramilitary organization.
—Bilal Y. Saab, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2010
See All Example Sentences for unexceptional
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Aaron Rodgers has plenty to prove heading into the Pittsburgh Steelers' season opener after a rather unexceptional 2024 from both a team and an individual perspective.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
The kitchen is … perfectly unexceptional and very studio size.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 28 July 2025
Left exposed, Lebanon could not prevent Iran from projecting its power through Hezbollah, which evolved from its original state as an unexceptional guerilla force into a highly professional and well-armed paramilitary organization.
—Bilal Y. Saab, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2010
See All Example Sentences for unexceptional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unexceptional
Adjective
-
In Italy and Switzerland, the avalanche death tolls are also much higher than normal.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
-
On the one hand, far more blooms than normal graced the desert all winter long.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The sheriff’s department specifically requested footage that includes cars, traffic, people or pedestrians, or anything that feels out of the ordinary or important.—
Randi Kaye,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Slater’s former top deputy, who also left the Justice Department, publicly warned that antitrust decisions are being influenced by corporate lobbyists — not in the interest of ordinary Americans.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
As usual, Tkachuk was an effective agitator of and a menace to opponents in ways that don’t show up in the limited stats that Olympic hockey tracks.—
Chris Kudialis,
Miami Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Burberry, after all, closes the fall 2026 season tomorrow with its usual celebs-in-trenches extravaganza.—
Alice Newbold,
Vogue,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Today, the average time to get a container from a ship to a train is just under four days.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The agency said the man is approximately 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-10 tall with an average build.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Given that a typical satellite payload is around 800 kg (1760 pounds), those prices were close to a billion dollars (in today’s dollars) per launch in the early days of spaceflight.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
24 Feb. 2026
-
By Sunday, the snowpack was at 73% of the typical level, per data from the California Department of Water Resources.—
Terry Castleman,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
All-cash offers, including in Boise and its surrounding suburbs, became commonplace and spurred bidding wars that drove up housing prices, Michael Megis, a longtime broker also with the Homes of Idaho real estate firm, said in an interview.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
-
McTier said Disney’s deal with OpenAI is an example of the kind of partnership that should become more commonplace.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In another era, the scene would have been unremarkable.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Nobody batted any eye at an otherwise unremarkable young woman getting a plum Washington internship simply because of her connections to the rich and powerful.—
Jonathan Zimmerman,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unexceptional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unexceptional. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
