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
Arnold’s own criticism often focussed on expanding horizons and recovering unknown authors, from the moralist Joseph Joubert to the diarist Eugénie de Guérin.
—
Colton Valentine, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
Fatu’s mystery attacker is still unknown.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Of the 10 wolves that were released in 2023, an unknown number have survived.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
Although her exact cause of death is unknown, many historians attribute it to the physical toll of both mob violence and her missionary travels.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unknown
Colton Valentine, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
Fatu’s mystery attacker is still unknown.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Of the 10 wolves that were released in 2023, an unknown number have survived.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
Although her exact cause of death is unknown, many historians attribute it to the physical toll of both mob violence and her missionary travels.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unknown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unknown
Adjective
-
And to folks unfamiliar with the IP system, that makes some superficial sense.—
David J. Kappos,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
-
He was brought in mid-season with a plan to develop him as a wide attacker and asked to lead an attack in an unfamiliar striker position.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
By grafting old-school procedural pleasures onto a 24-esque real-time format, the show produced a genuinely novel structure in the post-prestige era that was impossible to look away from.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
6 Jan. 2026
-
May 5 Schumacher is really funny (her hilarious novel Dear Committee Member won the Thurber Prize)!—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
How, then, could a king become so obscure, especially to his own people?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The intelligence assessment notes that dozens of companies linked to the group frequently rotate formal ownership and executive roles among family members, a structure investigators say is designed to complicate oversight, dilute legal exposure, and obscure ultimate beneficiaries.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
21 Jan. 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
-
The choice of Olivier Boscagli at left-back at Fulham, for example, a contributing factor in Chukwueze’s equaliser, was strange.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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In a dispatch from Minneapolis, chaun webster considers the strange familiarity of ICE and the limits of our language.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Some injuries can even go unrecognized for a little bit.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Each of them picked up a strong haul of overall nods (though, perplexingly, Daniel Lopatin’s excellent Marty Supreme score went unrecognized).—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Safavi described the scale of the demonstrations as unprecedented.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Here, sea level rise is accelerating at some of the most extreme rates on Earth, while hurricanes increasingly are swirling ashore with an unprecedented ferociousness.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The postponement has drawn criticism from environmental groups, while cruise operators argue that the extra time is necessary to allow new low- and zero-emission ships to enter service.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Melting sea ice has opened new shipping lanes, including the Northern Sea Route, dramatically shortening transit times between Europe and Asia.—
Paul McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unknown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unknown. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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