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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Recent Examples of unfamiliar
In later grades, when there are no pictures or too many unfamiliar words to memorize, these readers would falter, and their reading troubles would hinder learning in other academic subjects.
—
Denise Amos, Mercury News, 18 June 2025
Yet this inspiring character’s childhood remains largely unfamiliar to the public.
—Kevin Giraud, Variety, 10 June 2025
Besides, given that most of the leaders were largely unfamiliar with one another, a meeting would cultivate a spirit of trust and collaboration.
—Robert Hormats, Time, 10 June 2025
Action step: Volunteer for projects outside your usual scope to expand your skills and demonstrate your ability to thrive in unfamiliar territory.
—Kent Ingle, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Denise Amos, Mercury News, 18 June 2025
Yet this inspiring character’s childhood remains largely unfamiliar to the public.
—Kevin Giraud, Variety, 10 June 2025
Besides, given that most of the leaders were largely unfamiliar with one another, a meeting would cultivate a spirit of trust and collaboration.
—Robert Hormats, Time, 10 June 2025
Action step: Volunteer for projects outside your usual scope to expand your skills and demonstrate your ability to thrive in unfamiliar territory.
—Kent Ingle, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfamiliar
Adjective
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This film is set entirely inside a taxi cab that Panahi is driving around Tehran, as different people drift in and out of his car with their own strange and very personal dramas.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
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But one of the strangest well wishes came not from a person, but a 1,400-foot-tall building.—
Stephen Daw,
Billboard,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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What to Do One of the best ways to discover a new city is to visit its farmers' market.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
29 June 2025
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Affectionately, the 35-year-old pop star is not known for setting or chasing trends, instead using fashion to tease new musical eras or evoke a sense of girl-next-door relatability.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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This novel satellite system has allowed the researchers to produce the first ever full year of satellite tracking data over Canada, according to Western University.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
20 June 2025
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There are some new and novel ideas that might provide a way around this challenge.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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The Chinese military has concluded its unprecedented dual aircraft carrier deployment in the broader western Pacific, as one of the warships was spotted leaving the region, Japan has said.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
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Thousands of vibrant fragments, which once adorned a high-status Roman building, offer an unprecedented glimpse into the artistic sophistication and daily life of ancient Londinium, and their rearrangement is showcasing artworks that have remained hidden for over 1,800 years.—
Willem Marx,
NPR,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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This all-new pizza from DiGiorno features premium toppings and a perfectly crisp crust that serves up restaurant-quality taste fresh from your oven.—
Adam Mills,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
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None of which, sad to say, is terribly fresh or exciting.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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Because these are open-box deals, the items have been taken out of their original packaging and could arrive with minor scratches—but that won’t stop us from accepting the massive discount.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 June 2025
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The ultra-high-performance model, which debuted in 2023 at the very tail end of the third-generation Challenger’s lifecycle, added a 3.0-liter supercharger to the original Demon variant’s 6.2-liter Hellcat V-8.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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The criticism of Lamont increased after a previously unknown liberal named Zohran Mamdani won an upset victory over Cuomo, giving liberals their biggest win of the year at a time when the Democratic Party has been reeling nationwide by the presidency of Donald J. Trump.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2025
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The actual cost of the wedding is unknown, but Venice regional governor Luca Zaia originally estimated the cost between 20 million-30 million euros, or $23 million-$34 million, in a June 24 Reuters article.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
29 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfamiliar. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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