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
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
Matt Emma, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Despite the analogous finals matchup, some components of modern life in 2026 may look unfamiliar to the time traveler, while other scenes may strike a similar chord.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 28 Apr. 2026
But that confidence may be put to a test as potential challengers included in the survey posted stronger favorability scores than Johnson — though the city residents surveyed displayed significant levels of unfamiliarity with those possible rivals.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Adjective
While the blood-brain barrier may be unfamiliar to many, Papapetropoulos characterizes it simply as the brain’s security system.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Despite the analogous finals matchup, some components of modern life in 2026 may look unfamiliar to the time traveler, while other scenes may strike a similar chord.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
Noun
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
But that confidence may be put to a test as potential challengers included in the survey posted stronger favorability scores than Johnson — though the city residents surveyed displayed significant levels of unfamiliarity with those possible rivals.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfamiliar
Adjective
-
The issue at hand – renewing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA – has created strange political bedfellows this year on Capitol Hill, miring lawmakers in a debate pitting privacy against safety while consuming much of Congress' election-year time.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
Brunson answered with one of the strangest makes of his postseason.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
From this follow both the political dimension and a certain form of ignorance as to the source of so much unhappiness—and not only on the family front.—
Nina Mesfin,
New Yorker,
7 June 2026
-
Imperfect measurement is not an argument for embracing ignorance.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
That stands in contrast to the Nasdaq, which has already moved to fast-track SpaceX's inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 index, leading to concerns that new retail investors could become the cash cow of exit liquidity for legacy SpaceX shareholders.—
Katie Foley,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
-
With Fairfield High’s graduation set to be held Friday, community members started a petition calling for it to be moved to a new location.—
Seamus Bozeman
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2026
Adjective
-
The novel infection occurred in an adult living in Herkimer County, which stretches from the edge of Utica into the Adirondack Mountains.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
-
The Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel has long been known for the quality of its spa, but the team has pivoted to a novel approach, creating personalised longevity pathways using new technologies alongside long-standing organic and nature-focused treatments.—
Jaymi McCann,
TheWeek,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Putin was also at the parade, with the three leaders showcasing an unprecedented show of unity.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
-
The World Cup, a 48-team, 104-match behemoth kicking off this week in Los Angeles and across 15 other cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada, presents an unprecedented security challenge, with more countries, games and a larger footprint than ever before.—
Jake Offenhartz,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
That collaboration extends to travelers too—hosting group dinners, film screenings, and community events on the farm that bring fresh energy to his hometown.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
Wildland is always bustling, with patrons lining up for fresh pastries and coffee, as well as high-quality breakfast and lunch eats.—
Dyana Lederman,
Travel + Leisure,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
It's been 13 years since that sequel, which shed nearly every major player from the original franchise's cast and crew and added fresh blood like Ashley Tisdale and Lindsay Lohan.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
-
There are other interesting twists to the original story that highlight different parts of the themes of crime, punishment, family and responsibility.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Then the team, for unknown reasons, withdrew from the East Asian championship in 2019, and missed the 2023 World Cup, citing the Covid-19 pandemic.—
Andrew McNicol,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
-
The circumstances surrounding the shooting area unknown at this time.—
Elyssa Kaufman,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfamiliar. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
