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
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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 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
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 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
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
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There’s a Marshalls on the Strip, a flashy glassy Marshalls being scaled by King Kong–like blinking M&M’s, but this was a normal strip-mall Marshalls.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
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Temperatures will return closer to 'normal' beginning on Sunday afternoon, with highs near 60 degrees.—
Ron Smiley,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
Adjective
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Each episode closes the gap between inspiration and action, reminding audiences that remarkable brands are built by ordinary people who choose to keep going.—
Ascend Agency,
New York Daily News,
4 May 2026
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The only administrative requirements should be the ordinary ones that are necessary in order to maintain any system, such as confirming identity and preventing fraud, not ones that screen people out of necessary care.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
The show, which opens to the public May 10, examines the relationship between fashion, art and the body, giving the weekend’s pre-parties their usual mix of celebrity dressing, designer visibility and red carpet prelude.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
3 May 2026
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How much does this show deviate from Goodspeed as usual?—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Adjective
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The Lions valued Mays’ ability to anchor in pass protection, after allowing the second-fastest average time to pressure and a pass-block win rate that ranked 31st in the NFL, per ESPN.—
Colton Pouncy,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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But prices will likely stay high simply because the supply is so low; the average price on April 15 was 30 cents higher than a month earlier, according to the American Automobile Association.—
Aaron Cantú,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In typical fashion, singer and fashion powerhouse Rihanna shut down the carpet as the final guest to arrive much earlier than in year’s past.—
Beatrice Dupuy,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
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Comparing local rents to a broad measure of monthly ownership cost for a buyer – mortgage, taxes, insurance and maintenance – Zillow found the typical California renter in the six metros theoretically saved $191 monthly compared with owning.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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It's become almost commonplace in schools and at shopping malls.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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The incident brought America's commonplace gun violence just feet away from a room full of lawmakers, top officials, and journalists.—
Ryan Lucas,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The first 13 minutes of Stewart’s interview with House were unremarkable.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
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Thereafter, a dedicated team began removing the soil from what appeared to be an unremarkable lump.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unexceptional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unexceptional. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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