UNORTHODOX Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

unorthodox

adjective

ˌən-ˈȯr-thə-ˌdäks

Definition of unorthodox

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

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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 unorthodox The property’s unorthodox form also proved to be useful during the NBA Finals in June, when a pizzeria projected games onto the side of the building. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 27 Aug. 2026 The unorthodox generator engine, which powered all types of workhorse vehicles between 1959 and 1991, sits neatly inside its wheeled cart. — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 19 Aug. 2026 In a statement, the district attorney’s office didn’t rule out the unorthodox move and called on more witnesses in the case to come forward. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 The unorthodox approach raises questions for the Reeder family about police’s investigative strategy. — Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unorthodox

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unorthodox

Adjective

From the start, Paul’s unconventional and volatile romantic relationships were central to the series.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Nobody lives here permanently—only rotating teams of scientists, engineers, and unconventional travelers.

— Hana Al-Khodairi, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of unconventional

Adjective

What may have surprised even modern sports fans, however, was Ole Miss' suing two of its former players who followed former Rebels coach Lane Kiffin to his new position as head football coach at LSU.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
In the heart of East Nashville, this two-bedroom home is perfect for families and those looking for a long-term stay topped with modern appliances and laundry.

— Sara Sturek, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of modern

Adjective

Despite its informal format, the encounter carries considerable symbolic significance after decades of strained relations between Washington and Caracas.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
College football kickers have started communicating with each other through informal group chats and social media to negotiate contracts, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of informal

Adjective

Those include bringing the Kurdish peshmerga security forces in northern Iraq under control of the central government’s military and expelling Iranian Kurdish dissident groups and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, that have bases in the region.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026
In addition to sharing that expertise with Mexican cartels, the use of drones in Colombia has also become commonplace among FARC dissident groups.

— Sol Amaya, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of dissident

Adjective

In contrast, Nate Coulter, executive director of the Central Arkansas Library System, filed a lawsuit regarding Act 372 of 2023, the common-sense library law, in Fayetteville before liberal Judge Timothy Brooks.

— Robert Steinbuch, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
Other liberal economists disdain labor share as a useful metric, or see it as a distraction from sober policy analysis.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of liberal

Adjective

Instead of calling for calm and letting the justice system work, too many political leaders on the left and progressive social influencers either fanned the flames of unrest or failed to act until enormous damage was done.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
Attempt techniques like progressive muscle relaxation and body scans, box breathing, or even picturing your thoughts as clouds that are drifting away.

— Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of progressive

Adjective

Niacinamide soothes and evens tone, while rice bran extract conditions skin and helps defend against free-radical damage.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 Sep. 2026
Medical advances and especially vaccination — a radical concept, once — have nearly eliminated childhood diseases that killed up to half of children before age 5 when the nation was founded.

— Jonathan Fahey, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of radical

Browse Nearby Words

unornamented

unorthodox

unorthodoxy

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“Unorthodox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unorthodox. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of unorthodox

adjective

Example Sentences

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