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
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
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Recent Examples of unfamiliar
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
Then, late in the third quarter, the Bruins reached for a familiar face in an unfamiliar role.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Big Think, 10 Oct. 2025
As Palace struggled at times in the face of Sunderland’s defensive shield, Pino was a shining light, but there were signs of the 22-year-old’s rawness and unfamiliarity with the way his new team play.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Adjective
As in Robinson’s other works, what elevates them from amusing to sublime is the way they’re performed, often by unfamiliar but wonderfully offbeat character actors — through overly broad smiles, wild-eyed smirks, strange pronunciations.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
Then, late in the third quarter, the Bruins reached for a familiar face in an unfamiliar role.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
This culture of veneration coexists with a significant unfamiliarity with the document and its implications.
—Big Think, 10 Oct. 2025
As Palace struggled at times in the face of Sunderland’s defensive shield, Pino was a shining light, but there were signs of the 22-year-old’s rawness and unfamiliarity with the way his new team play.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfamiliar
Adjective
-
Thomas Wentworth Higginson spent his leisure time writing down the strange new lyrics in his journal.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The place was a dump, with paint chipping from the ceilings, floors slanted at strange angles, rodent droppings situated along the floorboards, and paper-thin walls that welcomed in bitter winter air.—
Jeff Pearlman,
Rolling Stone,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Sure thing, man, operate from a position of ignorance.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Anything other than that is coming from people’s ignorance.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, aging aircraft fleets and a wave of retirements have created an urgent demand for new technicians.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
20 Oct. 2025
-
In this new study featuring more than 1,000 participants at 244 sites in 17 countries, patients received either enzalutamide plus leuprolide (the combination group), leuprolide (the leuprolide-alone group), or enzalutamide monotherapy (the monotherapy group).—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Break out of a rut by being open to novel approaches toward love and by being less codependent.—
Lisa Stardust,
Refinery29,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The team employed a novel method using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver messenger RNA (mRNA) directly to the testes.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Administration has also issued reductions in force at agencies such as the Treasury Department and Health and Human Services, firing more than four thousand workers—an unprecedented action during a shutdown.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The film was being produced for an unprecedented $200 million budget — the most expensive movie ever made at the time — and the general public wasn't yet convinced that a movie about an 85-year-old maritime tragedy was anything to get hyped about.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Anglers who want to keep their catch fresh on a long drive home are better served to cover fish in a dry livewell with ice.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Oct. 2025
-
His monthly Inside China column explores the issues that shape discussions and understanding about Chinese innovation, providing fresh perspectives not found elsewhere.—
Ni Tao,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
One disc contains outtakes from the original 4-track demos, made by Springsteen in his house in Colts Head, NJ, with extras from a follow-up acoustic studio session at The Power Station that tried, and failed, to better those recordings.—
Will Hermes,
Rolling Stone,
19 Oct. 2025
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Founded in 1962, the museum highlights 200 years of canal history through interactive exhibits, original artifacts, and engaging programs that explore how this engineering marvel shaped New York’s communities and culture, past and present.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In a day of turmoil for the nation off southern Africa’s coast, the 51-year-old leader, whose whereabouts are unknown, earlier sought to dissolve the lower house by decree.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Per The New York Post, the spacious 21,000-square-foot Olympia Fields estate was sold to an unknown buyer, but the history behind the home may have had much to do with its purchase.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfamiliar. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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