1
as in unconventional
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices
a time when people with unorthodox religious views were banished from the colony
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in modern
not bound by traditional ways or beliefs
raised by an aunt, whose unorthodox parenting practices made for a strange but fun childhood
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3
as in informal
not rigidly following established form, custom, or rules
an unorthodox but effective procedure for opening a wine bottle without a corkscrew
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Recent Examples of unorthodox
The two-hour play’s structure is unorthodox and the character arcs are huge, but director Charles Peters does a fine job threading everything together and keeping the performances natural.
—
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2025
The unorthodox choice of his 20-year-old daughter, a nun-in-training who believes her father’s work is immoral, is part of Korda’s elaborate business plan.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 11 June 2025
President Donald Trump's order to deploy 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles appears unprecedented, relying on an unorthodox use of a law aimed at quelling serious domestic unrest or an attack on the United States by a foreign power, some legal experts said Sunday.
—Justin Jouvenal, Arkansas Online, 9 June 2025
His play style is the basis of the Pacers’ unorthodox blueprint for an NBA Finals run.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unorthodox
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2025
The unorthodox choice of his 20-year-old daughter, a nun-in-training who believes her father’s work is immoral, is part of Korda’s elaborate business plan.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 11 June 2025
President Donald Trump's order to deploy 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles appears unprecedented, relying on an unorthodox use of a law aimed at quelling serious domestic unrest or an attack on the United States by a foreign power, some legal experts said Sunday.
—Justin Jouvenal, Arkansas Online, 9 June 2025
His play style is the basis of the Pacers’ unorthodox blueprint for an NBA Finals run.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unorthodox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unorthodox
Adjective
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The early detection of viral RNA in wild bird droppings, sometimes preceding official poultry outbreaks, suggests that unconventional surveillance in these biologically rich but infrastructurally sparse areas could play a larger role in pandemic risk mitigation.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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Now, in the weeks after its unconventional 22nd anniversary celebration, the label is set to launch one of its biggest — and most personal — compilations yet.—
Britt Julious,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Despite introducing the modern world to Nintendo games with 1981’s arcade classic, the great ape was quickly sidelined in favor of making Mario a star.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
1 July 2025
-
Get Back redefined modern music documentary and longform storytelling, sweeping the Emmys’ documentary categories with five awards.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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Chris Jackson/Getty Images At one stage, the king had hoped for a more informal meeting in Scotland, where the royals spend their summer holiday.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
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The partnership was a crash course for them both: an informal academy with a class roster of two.—
Josh Rottenberg,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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Eduard Limonov then—an appropriate nom de plume for a dissident poet arriving in 1974 New York, a metropolis of graffiti and project fires, of blackouts and serial killers.—
Ed Simon
June 23,
Literary Hub,
23 June 2025
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Jafar Panahi — the Iranian dissident filmmaker who has been arrested, jailed, and banned from filmmaking numerous times in his home country due to his powerful and provocative work — took home the top prize.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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For liberal leaning shows, that number shrinks significantly, around 1 million for MSNBC and 558,000 for CNN.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
21 June 2025
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Haley shows strength with liberal Republicans (16 percent), but that bloc makes up a small portion of the party.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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For now, there’s nothing quite so out-there, although deer blood is the star ingredient in the final dessert, a chocolate-ish (but cocoa-free) fondant served with hazelnut praline and malt ice cream.—
Ann Abel,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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An out-there premise, for sure, but one that has so far worked out better than anyone had a right to expect.—
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz,
StyleCaster,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Mamdani, who espouses more progressive socialist-leaning views, wants to make New York City more affordable for all, paid for through more taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Despite representing a team that finished 11th in the most recent Liga F season, Jacinto finished in the top 10 for progressive passes (third, with 238), key passes (joint eighth, with 49), passes into the final third (fifth, with 221), and passes into the penalty area (seventh, with 43).—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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The administration’s radical and peremptory elimination of U.S. foreign assistance removed a lever of American influence and telegraphed a level of indifference that will not go unnoticed.—
KORI SCHAKE,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
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Anyone who reads history knows the only reason any workers anywhere have any sort of rights is because past workers formed unions, and radical, militant ones at that.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unorthodox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unorthodox. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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