UNEXCEPTIONAL Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

unexceptional

adjective

ˌən-ik-ˈsep-sh(ə-)nəl

Definition of unexceptional

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

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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 That’s why nominating another batch of respectable but unexceptional candidates—the preference of the party’s DC establishment—could be deadly. — Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 16 Feb. 2026 Dad had always told me his father was a naval officer who'd had an unexceptional career and died suddenly in a traffic accident. — CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025 Meanwhile, Young and the Panthers' offense has been unexceptional through three quarters, but did enough to take a 13-3 lead into the fourth quarter. — Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025 The site includes several unexceptional museums housed in palaces, but two must-see attractions are the Mosque of Mohammed Ali and the Gawhara Terrace for a fantastic view over Cairo. — Nada El Sawy, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2023 See All Example Sentences for unexceptional

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unexceptional

Adjective

There’s no telling how long these discounts will last, so be sure to find the one that fits your cleaning needs before prices return to normal.

— Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2026
The latest Santa Ana wind event moving through Southern California will peak Saturday, but higher-than-normal temperatures and elevated fire risk will remain through next week.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of normal

Adjective

When a family is one ordinary bill from the edge, its backup plan is sleeping in the car.

— Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026
The Ohio State University In ordinary air, oxygen molecules settle onto the sensor surfaces and draw electrons away from the material, increasing its electrical resistance.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of ordinary

Adjective

Breakfast is à la carte, with all the usual suspects, including shakshuka and avocado toast, and silver pots filled with high-octane coffee.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
So, the high-scoring Lakers just had to play to their usual effort.

— Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of usual

Adjective

In 2025, the average accident-only pet insurance premium was $112 for cats and $190 for dogs, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA).

— Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
West Aurora also saw improvement in its average math scores on the ACT, but saw a slight decline in ELA.

— Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of average

Adjective

The museum isn’t located in downtown Houston or anywhere near the stadiums, the museum district, or typical attractions people visit in the city.

— Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2026
The gravity on the surface can be several billion times Earth’s, and a typical neutron star’s magnetic field is billions of times stronger than Earth’s as well.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of typical

Adjective

Back then, the solar system was host to an infant star surrounded by a swirling disk of gas and dust in which collisions between bodies called planetesimals — the building blocks of planets — were commonplace.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Rotary phones let users enter numbers themselves, and, at least in American cities, the ability to make local calls by dialling had become commonplace by the nineteen-thirties.

— Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of commonplace

Adjective

After all, his career record is a rather unremarkable 52-50, which doesn’t include his 0-3 record in playoff games.

— Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026
Rooms Starting from 334 square feet, standard rooms are comfortable, if unremarkable, with Hilton Serenity beds and smart TVs.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of unremarkable

Browse Nearby Words

unexceptionable

unexceptional

unexcitable

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“Unexceptional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unexceptional. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of unexceptional

adjective

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