Definition of unknownnext
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as in unfamiliar
happening or existing without one's knowledge unknown to me was the fact that while I was out, my family was hurriedly preparing a surprise birthday party

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 unknown Businesses often find unknown security issues and share setups or app connections. Malana Vantyler march 6, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026 The reason for the boos is unknown. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Mar. 2026 But for cargo that is already in transit, shippers are staring down an uncertain future where the destination port, total costs involved and overall responsibility after drop-off all remain unknown. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 6 Mar. 2026 The company did not respond to multiple requests for comment, so Diagne’s history as a Tesla employee is unknown. Andrea Guzmán, Austin American Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unknown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unknown
Adjective
  • What is happening now has taken our city to a place that feels unfamiliar.
    Andrea Levine O’Rourke, Sun Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Texas baseball has spent so much of its time this season steamrolling its opposition that any sense of adversity might have felt unfamiliar.
    David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Of course, the cross-pollination between fashion and design isn’t entirely novel.
    Katherine McGrath, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Of course, any savvy collector recognizes that Monet’s haystacks and Pollack’s action paintings were once novel outliers, too.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Erie, Pennsylvania; Lincoln, Nebraska; and the obscure Tri-Cities airport in Eastern Tennessee, among others.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Others cite obscure legal theories.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie turned the wizardly backstory into an epic adventure, opening a gateway for young unbeknownst fantasy fans everywhere while also delivering a classically wholesome story about the importance of family and a parent's unconditional love.
    EW Staff, EW.com, 1 July 2024
  • For a surprise at the end, unbeknownst even to King, Winfrey arranged a path lined with sparklers, framing the couple in a golden glow against the night sky.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 6 June 2024
Adjective
  • Key themes in her work include environmental catastrophe, belief, and the strange and unsettling aspects of human life.
    Joy Williams, The Dial, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Foremost among them was his strange work schedule.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Advertisement What often goes unrecognized is the sheer complexity behind these events.
    Oksana Masters, Time, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Women collaborators — editors, producers, wives — did essential, often unrecognized work enabling the trio’s rise.
    Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • That twist of fate came after last year’s unprecedented mid-decade rejiggering of California’s congressional districts.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Progress has been painfully slow, stalled by gaps in technical knowledge, cost overruns and the extreme caution required to deal with an unprecedented accident of such magnitude.
    Yusuke Maekawa, Bloomberg, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The universe is giving us space to integrate new desires without losing compassion for others.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Steve Carell taught it, and Adam McKay developed an entire new way of doing it with his group, so to get in there and have that happen was just absolutely magical.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Unknown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unknown. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

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