unfamiliar 1 of 2

adjective

ˌən-fə-ˈmil-yər How to pronounce unfamiliar (audio)
Definition of unfamiliarnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

unfamiliarity

2 of 2

noun

as in ignorance
the state of being unaware or uninformed some intense studying rapidly remedied my unfamiliarity with the subject in time for the exam

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Adjective
Also, watch for an unfamiliar app asking for Full Disk Access or permission to reach Documents and Downloads. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026 An interview may reveal how someone listens and responds to an unfamiliar question. — Cuneyt Gozu, The Conversation, 21 July 2026
Noun
Not out of intent, but out of unfamiliarity. — Pragati Awasthi, The Conversation, 26 May 2026 Kennedy’s overhaul of the group and its unfamiliarity with some of the nitty-gritty of procedural requirements was evident throughout the afternoon. — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfamiliar
  1. strange
  2. new
  3. novel
  4. unprecedented
  5. fresh
  6. original
  7. unknown
Adjective
  • While Deliverance follows more or less in the footsteps of Blackwater Park, Damnation digs into a strange new realm for the band, uncovering something even darker.
    — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 19 July 2026
  • Downstate, the threat of black vultures still feels new and strange.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026
Definition of strange
Adjective
  • Among those rumoured to be part of a new regime, the old 1998 goalkeeper Fabien Barthez is in the mix.
    — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Iran’s unemployment has worsened since the conflict began, and its currency has hit new lows.
    — Jomana Karadsheh, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Definition of new
Adjective
  • Romero, who has been watching this year’s matches at bars in Mexico City, said she’s enjoyed trying new beers, especially those with novel ingredients like champagne yeast.
    — Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 17 July 2026
  • Predictive machine learning is no longer a novel topic of conversation in healthcare.
    — Subba Rao Katragadda, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of novel
Adjective
  • Women's basketball is experiencing unprecedented growth, but Black women's economic ownership lags.
    — Allison Smith, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Europe saw a record amounts of land burned in 2025, Canada has had several record or near-record fire years in the 2020s and the Arctic recently has had unprecedented levels of burning.
    — Seth Borenstein, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of unprecedented
Adjective
  • Add a bit of garlic and fresh herbs and the sauce is even better.
    — Kate Williams, AJC.com, 20 July 2026
  • The painful memory of the last citywide revaluation in 2021 is still fresh, with a broad cross-section of homeowners experiencing real estate tax bill sticker shock as residential property values soared in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic.
    — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026
Definition of fresh
Adjective
  • While Nielsen’s streaming rankings for the week of July 6 to 12 won’t be available for another month or so, early data from the measurement company puts The Five Star Weekend among the Top 5 original streaming series in that timeframe.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 17 July 2026
  • The original case dates back to the early hours of May 8, 1981, when Sebold, then a Syracuse University freshman, was brutally raped in a park near campus.
    — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 17 July 2026
Definition of original
Adjective
  • The lab got its start with studies of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the 1900s, when ranchers and cattle were dying from the then-unknown disease.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • The previously unknown visit, revealed to the Washington Examiner by a source familiar with the matter, appears to be his first since leaving power in April.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 July 2026
Definition of unknown

Browse Nearby Words

unfaltering
unfamiliar
unfamiliarity
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Cite this Entry

“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfamiliar. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on unfamiliar

Nglish: Translation of unfamiliar for Spanish Speakers

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