1
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
Relevance
2
as in novel
not known or experienced before
becoming a father brought unknown joy to his life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obscure
not widely known
looking for a relatively unknown singer to record the song
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unknown
The series is set in the seemingly idyllic town of Blooming Hills, where unknown forces unleash chilling terrors on local teens.
—
Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
Meltzer spoke with Rolling Stone about exploring Birkin’s unknown history and the internet culture directly inspired by this icon.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025
Could its detection on Venus mean there is life in its clouds, or is some inorganic chemistry, unknown on Earth, producing it?
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Water could not extinguish Greek fire, and to this day the exact formula for making the deadly substance is unknown.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unknown
Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
Meltzer spoke with Rolling Stone about exploring Birkin’s unknown history and the internet culture directly inspired by this icon.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025
Could its detection on Venus mean there is life in its clouds, or is some inorganic chemistry, unknown on Earth, producing it?
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Water could not extinguish Greek fire, and to this day the exact formula for making the deadly substance is unknown.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unknown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unknown
Adjective
-
Surrounded by spies, at odds with his colleagues, forced to proceed by stealth in a second language and an unfamiliar culture, Franklin had difficulties enough without having to hear of his son’s Loyalist activities.—
Stacy Schiff,
The Atlantic,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Instead, the team encountered some unfamiliar-looking fish hiding in plant roots.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
His role on Monday was a novel one.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Robert Bloch published the novel Psycho, which was partially based on Gein’s crimes, in 1959.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The obscure defensive lineman spent the first month of the season on the shelf, but after returning for the 27-24 comeback win over the Miami Dolphins, the former Alabama standout is expected to be a healthy presence in the trenches for the Carolina Panthers.—
Mike Kaye
October 9,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Oct. 2025
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Instead of invoking the Act, the White House is using Section 12-406 of Title 10, an obscure provision of federal law, to claim authority to bring in National Guard troops, NPR's Jaclyn Diaz tells Up First.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Every city’s got that one weirdo kid making strange music.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The Sidney-Levi side of the proceedings is less interesting but more dominant, demonstrating a strange misunderstanding of the show’s appeal.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In many cases, fans were able to see that the tickets were surreptitiously forwarded to unrecognized accounts, presumably so they could be sold on third-party sites.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
24 Sep. 2025
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Farrell's completely unrecognized look and vocal cadence struck fans in a massive way, leading to Reeves and DC cooking up a limited miniseries that showcased Penguin's rise in Gotham.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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The rapid-fire moves created an unprecedented series of openings that will need to be filled in short order.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
8 Oct. 2025
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This pinch was particularly felt at the Spring-Summer 2026 shows in Paris, many of which had fewer seats for guests and less elaborate set designs than usual, despite there being an unprecedented number of designer debuts.—
Fiona Sinclair Scott,
CNN Money,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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China’s sweeping new restrictions, some of which won’t take effect until November, could deal a huge blow to East Asian economies, such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, which play critical roles in the global tech and artificial intelligence supply chain, as well as the auto industries.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 2025
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And among the primary challenges is learning new defensive principles.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unknown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unknown. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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