UNLIKE Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

unlike

adjective

ˌən-ˈlīk

Definition of unlike

as in different

being not of the same kind you're trying to compare very unlike things—like those proverbial apples and oranges

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 unlike The plan is unlike to pass in its current form, and some environmental groups and Democrats already vow to oppose it. — Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2026 Or the move could have been to help the calf stay afloat—unlike adults, young sperm whales tend to sink and need to swim harder to reach the surface to breathe. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026 Extreme cold is especially dangerous for donkeys because unlike horses, donkeys don’t have the natural oils in their coats that repel moisture, Vargas said. — Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026 What’s more, plastic—unlike glass and aluminum—loses its functionality when it’s recycled. — Judith Enck, Time, 1 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unlike

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlike

Adjective

Windermere defeated Pine Ridge 42-0 Windermere (8-3) senior running back Jabari Anderson scored three touchdowns in three different ways — running the ball, catching the ball and returning a punt.

— Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Nov. 2026
Clark's defense came as Democrats faced accusations that the outcome might have been different had some of them not been held up while returning to the Capitol from an off-campus fundraiser.

— Mariana Alfaro, Arkansas Online, 13 Nov. 2026

Definition of different

Adjective

The album earned widespread critical acclaim for its intricate arrangements and the distinctive interplay between Lloyd’s and Verlaine’s guitars.

— Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 7 Nov. 2026
By the time of their 1974 debut at CBGB, Verlaine and Hell had recruited Lloyd to be the group’s second guitarist, a move that gave Television its signature and distinctive dueling Strat-versus-Jazzmaster sound.

— Greg Evans, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of distinctive

Adjective

That lack of definition extends to the sound of the record, which transforms hyperactively from track to track, echoing the sounds of many other artists without ever quite establishing a distinct profile.

— Aimee Cliff, Pitchfork, 11 Nov. 2026
Filmed in and around guests’ bathrooms, the series features creatives with distinct points of view who have built something of their own, reflecting Jolie’s ties to fashion, design, art, and culture.

— Karin Eldor, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of distinct

Adjective

The University of Washington chapter of Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return, or SUPER UW, spearheaded a May 2024 encampment at the Seattle campus with other groups, according to reports and SUPER UW’s statements.

— Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 9 Nov. 2026
They were photographed together both at a bar with other suppliers and then also out to dinner with some other executives.

— Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 9 Nov. 2026