UNFAMILIARITIES Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

unfamiliar 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Distance from family, unfamiliar systems and language barriers are real considerations. — Lance B. Fulford, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026 The distinction matters because responding to a signal and accurately classifying an unfamiliar chemical mixture are separate tasks. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026

Noun

The reasons are many, ranging from the slow adoption of new medical technologies, to many urologists’ unfamiliarity with interpreting MRI scans, to the loss of income from doing fewer biopsies. — Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 5 Aug. 2026 Even a short period can act as an emotional and mental buffer, allowing your brain to re-adjust from the excitement and unfamiliarity of the road back to a standard, daily schedule. — Laura Kiniry, Popular Science, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfamiliar

Adjective

Alexi’s script gets to the heart of the strange, necessary bonds between humans and animals.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 30 Oct. 2026
Something in the movement of his hands, too fast, too smooth, too precise, and something in the play of the light and shadow across his knuckles, reveals that something strange is at work.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of strange

Adjective

While Usher was off basking in the afterglow of Confessions, maturing into a divorcé in the mid-2000s, the R&B world was already priming itself for a new-school successor.

— Clover Hope, Pitchfork, 25 Oct. 2026
Many voters thank him for pulling Serbia from economic obscurity and orchestrating a period of sustained modernisation including new highways, railways, schools and hospitals.

— Reuters, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of new

Adjective

Chef Williams Saurina adds his own touches, with novel spins on ceviche, zesty salsas flecked with pumpkin seeds, and aromatic Tikin Xic (sea bass with recado rojo, made from local achiote, wrapped in totomoxtle leaf).

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026
Making collaboration count That same logic is also driving interest in sourcing pools—by no means a novel concept but one that has been discussed more in the abstract than put into practice.

— Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of novel

Adjective

Iran’s allies and proxies, including those in Iraq and Yemen, have also struck Saudi oil facilities and civilian infrastructure, putting unprecedented pressure on the kingdom.

— Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
Monday’s filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission showed that Anthropic, like other AI firms, is splashing out unprecedented amounts of cash on cloud services to run its AI models.

— Steve Kopack, NBC news, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of unprecedented

Adjective

This will help to draw any excess moisture and keep the greens fresh for longer in the fridge.

— Molly Allen, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2026
Things to do ☀️ New York-style bagels, a fresh manicure and a massage in the back of a sushi restaurant are on the agenda for ‘Scrubs’ actor Judy Reyes on her perfect Sunday.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of fresh

Adjective

Don’t miss the 153-year-old Point Arena Lighthouse, where a climb up the 115-foot tower yields birds-eye views and the Signal Museum houses the original Fresnel lens.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026
Not every case deserves that kind of last-minute intervention, but in Duckett’s case nearly every shred of evidence presented at his original trial has been disproven or debunked.

— Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of original

Adjective

Physically resembles Harop; performance equivalence unknown Despite the aircraft’s striking physical resemblance to the Israeli Harop, its actual technological equivalence remains unconfirmed.

— Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 1 Nov. 2026
Because my parents crossed oceans, defied the odds to build a new life in an unknown land.

— Rebecca Schneid, Time, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of unknown

Browse Nearby Words

unfaltering

unfamiliar

unfamiliarity

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfamiliar. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of unfamiliar

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

candidate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 SCRABBLE Dictionary

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes