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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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 Enables robot learning GO-3 Preview is a model designed to help robots acquire new skills, adapt to unfamiliar tasks, and improve through real-world experience. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026 If this sort of shotgun approach to local targeting is a relatively unfamiliar phenomenon in political circles, football fans have long grown used to seeing ads for things that are essentially irrelevant to their own interests. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2026 Organizations need periods when employees can become proficient with new systems, develop confidence in unfamiliar procedures and actually experience the benefits of changes already introduced. — Jason Richmond, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026 Fielder, for those unfamiliar with his work, is a comedian, best known for his Comedy Central series (currently streaming on HBO) Nathan for You. — ArsTechnica, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfamiliar

Adjective

Talk about strange beginnings at Friday’s City Section Division I football playoff opener between Sun Valley Poly and host Marshall.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
And having one of those is as strange and terrifying as anything else in the universe.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of strange

Adjective

Nichols ran tests comparing sounds laid down on 24-track analog tape with those captured by a new 32-track digital unit manufactured by 3M, and found the latter superior.

— Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 8 Nov. 2026
The Russian missiles that hit overnight across the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, damaged homes and commercial properties, triggering new power and water outages, national and city authorities said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of new

Adjective

As a result, Tirana’s compact city center is filled with buildings in bright colors and novel shapes.

— Fred A. Bernstein, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2026
The hackers who stole billions of dollars in cryptocurrency from the Binance exchange spent months working on the theft and used both social engineering and novel malware in the process, the company said Tuesday.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of novel

Adjective

The Media Lab is an unprecedented electronic playground born of AI.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
Industrial modernity produced buildings at unprecedented speed while also accelerating the rate at which the technologies, industries, and infrastructures that gave them purpose became obsolete.

— Julian Rose, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of unprecedented

Adjective

Another good bet for fresh turkey is Mary’s Land Farm, at 4797 Sheppard Lane.

— Janet Kusterer, Baltimore Sun, 8 Nov. 2026
Slate and Ford both believe the time is right for a no-frills compact electric pickup, but even these trucks rely on fresh engineering and are aimed at retail as well as fleet buyers.

— Stephen Edelstein, The Drive, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of fresh

Adjective

The backstory The original Okura, opened in 1962, was a modernist icon beloved for its distinctive lobby and mid-century design.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
O'Brien and Bashir were digitally pasted over the original actors in the former, while the latter was explained away by Sisko and Dax's madcap dash to find the elusive explosive tribble.

— Richard Edwards, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of original

Adjective

One of the state’s biggest roadblocks to new data centers could be determined by the as yet unknown Alaskan Midterms results.

— Oliver Trapnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2026
Cybergenetics isolated the unknown person’s genotypes from each DNA sample and compared them to determine whether the cases were connected.

— Maria Aguilar Prieto, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 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 10 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of unfamiliar

adjective

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