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

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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

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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

Check your credit reports for new accounts or unfamiliar inquiries. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026 The pork chop came with an unfamiliar vegetable, shreds of a green stalk. — Emma Cline, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026

Noun

Perhaps the most difficult part of assimilating into a new community is embracing the unfamiliarity. — Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2026 Most couples have never purchased wedding flowers before, and that unfamiliarity can make the process feel overwhelming. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfamiliar

Adjective

Investigators later ruled out trains and power lines as possible causes — and traced the fire’s point of origin to the same spot Child witnessed the man’s strange behavior.

— Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
And Dad actually makes an uncredited vocal cameo on one of the album’s more blessedly strange tracks.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of strange

Adjective

Balancing privacy and publicity isn’t new, says Alice Marshall, who runs her own public relations agency handling luxury travel clients.

— Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
After years of slow progress, a new development in in a Colorado town is finally close to getting the green light.

— Olivia Young, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of new

Adjective

Making novel genes is not new, but creating an entire functional genome is much trickier—genes have complex patterns of interaction, and all their cascading effects need to be taken into account for the result to function as a comprehensive body.

— Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026
So Pederson entered his son into a clinical trial for a novel treatment.

— Bobby Allyn, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of novel

Adjective

The site will probe the internal structure of protons, neutrons and atomic nuclei with unprecedented precision.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
With ocean temperatures rising at unprecedented rates, warmer northern coastal waters may be enabling the rays to arrive in these waters earlier and to stay longer.

— Sanidhya Sharma, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of unprecedented

Adjective

The luxury resort has truly found its rhythm, fresh enough to still feel like a discovery, and sitting directly in the path of one of the most valuable luxury audiences to arrive in Las Vegas all year.

— Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
The isotope is used to initiate nuclear reactor startup and analyze fresh reactor fuel.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of fresh

Adjective

One stores and processes incoming charge, while another traps electrons to control how quickly the device returns to its original state.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2026
Many of the original features have been preserved, including two magnificent fireplaces with bread ovens.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of original

Adjective

The tiara was ultimately sold at auction at Christie’s in Geneva in May 1981 to an unknown buyer.

— Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026
The Independence Police Department received a tip that Kitara and another man may have beaten Simpson with a ratchet before dumping her body in an unknown location, according to court documents.

— Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of unknown

Browse Nearby Words

unfaltering

unfamiliar

unfamiliarity

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Style

“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfamiliar. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of unfamiliar

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

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