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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unorthodox
His lyrics were layered, skillful and unorthodox.
—
Jabari M. Evans,
The Conversation,
24 June 2026
The list of suspects swell, as in an Agatha Christie novel, as Noelle’s unorthodox snooping about leads to surprise twists.
—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
Its popularity surged during the coronavirus pandemic as unorthodox doctors and anti-vaccine activists promoted it as a treatment for COVID-19.
—
ABC News,
17 June 2026
Hardline politicians slammed the president’s unorthodox choice of attire and activists accused him of double standards, where under Iran’s strict dress codes, ordinary people would be barred from dressing down.
—
Nadeen Ebrahim,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unorthodox
Jabari M. Evans,
The Conversation,
24 June 2026
The list of suspects swell, as in an Agatha Christie novel, as Noelle’s unorthodox snooping about leads to surprise twists.
—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
Its popularity surged during the coronavirus pandemic as unorthodox doctors and anti-vaccine activists promoted it as a treatment for COVID-19.
—
ABC News,
17 June 2026
Hardline politicians slammed the president’s unorthodox choice of attire and activists accused him of double standards, where under Iran’s strict dress codes, ordinary people would be barred from dressing down.
—
Nadeen Ebrahim,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unorthodox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unorthodox
Adjective
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Mauricio Pochettino has made the unconventional conventional since taking over as coach of the national team 18 months ago.
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Many shoppers are also moving beyond the classic round brilliant diamond in favor of geometric cuts, elongated shapes and unconventional settings.
Adjective
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Given modern advances, many organizations are turning towards auto-triaging by AI services and other digital tools to help ease the burden for physicians.
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One non-negotiable of the modern footballer is good coffee.
Adjective
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Here the enduring wisdom of Indian spiritual philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti, Ojai’s informal patron saint, serves even to hold a recent incursion of ultra-rich to account.
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These employee-to-owner pipelines and apprenticeship-to-owner transitions marked informal forms of employee ownership.
Adjective
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But cartels and dissident groups still control pockets of the country, cocaine exports are at an all-time high and Colombia remains one of the world's most economically unequal countries.
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The group is a dissident faction of the defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
Adjective
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But the court ruled in February that Republican counter plans violated a Utah referendum prohibiting gerrymandering, solidifying the single district centered on the increasingly liberal Salt Lake City.
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The high court divided 6 to 3 along ideological lines in ruling against Damon Landor, with the three liberal justices in dissent.
Adjective
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The ballerina sneaker trend is just the latest in a line of kooky shoe creations that range from wearable to wildly out-there.
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This is also by far the coolest crowd at the festival, a sea of designer outfits, out-there silhouettes, fresh haircuts, and even bouquets of flowers.
Adjective
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His endorsements are for progressive candidates challenging incumbent Democrats.
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In a crowded field, voters will pick among four candidates who are all different flavors of Democrat, ranging from moderate to much more progressive and aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America.
Adjective
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Its faith that people can rebuild their lives and start over feels almost radical today.
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That being said, the use of such transcripts requires a radical rethinking of the evidentiary landscape and the role of juror psychology.
Cite this Entry
“Unorthodox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unorthodox. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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