UNFAMILIAR Synonyms: 32 Similar and Opposite Words

unfamiliar

adjective

ˌən-fə-ˈmil-yər

Definition of unfamiliar

as in strange

not known or experienced before ordered an unfamiliar wine and was surprised to find that it was much drier than what they were used to

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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 unfamiliar If someone cannot answer basic questions about your destination or seems unfamiliar with current entry rules, keep looking. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Aug. 2026 Late decision costs Twins A split-second decision by Lewis on an unfamiliar play hastened the end of Saturday’s game. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 Review bank and credit card statements for unfamiliar activity. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Even something as simple as seeing avocado prepared in an unfamiliar way showed him that what his own family already did well could still be elevated through a different perspective. — Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfamiliar

Adjective

Investigators later ruled out trains and power lines as possible causes — and traced the fire’s point of origin to the same spot Child witnessed the man’s strange behavior.

— Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
And Dad actually makes an uncredited vocal cameo on one of the album’s more blessedly strange tracks.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of strange

Adjective

Balancing privacy and publicity isn’t new, says Alice Marshall, who runs her own public relations agency handling luxury travel clients.

— Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
After years of slow progress, a new development in in a Colorado town is finally close to getting the green light.

— Olivia Young, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of new

Adjective

Making novel genes is not new, but creating an entire functional genome is much trickier—genes have complex patterns of interaction, and all their cascading effects need to be taken into account for the result to function as a comprehensive body.

— Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026
So Pederson entered his son into a clinical trial for a novel treatment.

— Bobby Allyn, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of novel

Adjective

Bret, Thom, and Susan are all at the stables to support Debbie — and because getting their licenses has given them unprecedented freedom, with parents who have essentially left their children to fend for themselves.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
The imagery and time-lapse video reveal an unprecedented look at the sun’s complex and dynamic photosphere, the visible surface of the sun that exists as a thin layer of atmosphere shaped by magnetic fields and currents of fluid plasma.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of unprecedented

Adjective

The luxury resort has truly found its rhythm, fresh enough to still feel like a discovery, and sitting directly in the path of one of the most valuable luxury audiences to arrive in Las Vegas all year.

— Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
The isotope is used to initiate nuclear reactor startup and analyze fresh reactor fuel.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of fresh

Adjective

One stores and processes incoming charge, while another traps electrons to control how quickly the device returns to its original state.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2026
Many of the original features have been preserved, including two magnificent fireplaces with bread ovens.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of original

Adjective

The cargo vessel struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz north of Oman suffered a complete blackout, according to a report from the Marisks maritime risk management group.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
For those with diabetes, that often means going open source and assuming some unknown risks.

— Dana P. Goldman, STAT, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of unknown

Browse Nearby Words

unfaltering

unfamiliar

unfamiliarity

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“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfamiliar. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of unfamiliar

adjective

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