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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unorthodox
Dickerson and DuBois made for an unorthodox pairing, with the latter offering smooth delivery and the former serving as more of a kinetic on-screen presence.
—
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
The 5-foot-10, 177-pound dynamo with unorthodox training methods and freakish athletic ability that, in its own way, rivals Shohei Ohtani’s.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Trump’s unorthodox foreign policy seen as crucial to Gaza ceasefire
US President Donald Trump’s unorthodox foreign policy approach was crucial to securing the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, analysts said.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2025
In the 1880s, a New York heiress with an active and unorthodox social life was declared a habitual drunkard, placed under a legal guardianship, and later confined to an asylum.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unorthodox
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
The 5-foot-10, 177-pound dynamo with unorthodox training methods and freakish athletic ability that, in its own way, rivals Shohei Ohtani’s.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Trump’s unorthodox foreign policy seen as crucial to Gaza ceasefire
US President Donald Trump’s unorthodox foreign policy approach was crucial to securing the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, analysts said.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2025
In the 1880s, a New York heiress with an active and unorthodox social life was declared a habitual drunkard, placed under a legal guardianship, and later confined to an asylum.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unorthodox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unorthodox
Adjective
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Washington — The Federal Reserve’s newest policymaker has an unconventional perspective on the US economy that’s proving tough to sell.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
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Barr’s unconventional campaign, meant to make an argument against gerrymandering producing deeply partisan districts, made national headlines.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In short, the great task before us is to revisit and reimagine America’s founding fight as a creation story in the making of our modern world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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Anyone vaguely near the aesthetic gets christened it by fans, including Bassvictim, who were always funnier and more creative than the other modern electroclash revivalists.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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During the 2020 cycle, disinformation targeting Black voters has been spreading through informal channels on social media, according to a report by NBC News.—
David Smiley,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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The informal meeting represents the first layer in the appeals process the district is entitled to avail itself of, Lecholop said.—
Silas Allen,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The recipient was the dissident theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who had been imprisoned several months earlier, on account of his opposition to the Nazi regime.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2025
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Among them were 17 members of the Iranian dissident organization Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MEK).—
Beth Bailey,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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From the perspective of a world of increasingly unimaginable maldistribution of resources, cascading ecological collapse, a genocide cheered on by a putatively liberal order, both are barbarisms.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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Rodriguez is running in the 21st Assembly District, which is also leans more liberal after the 2024 adoption of new electoral maps.—
Molly Beck,
jsonline.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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That group — which also included voices from prominent genre brands like Vinegar Syndrome, Fangoria, MPI Media, Alter, and more — toasted not just the scariest cinema but the most out-there media of all kinds.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
21 Oct. 2025
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Every Tuesday, a corner of the Mezquitán market turns into a massive secondhand clothing bazaar, with heaps of statement vintage finds and out-there patterned fabrics spread out over long tables.—
David Shortell,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Advertisement Her victory also carries national implications for Democrats, who are struggling to chart a path between progressive energy and centrist caution ahead of the 2026 midterms.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
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One person familiar with Tuesday’s heated discussion within the caucus says there appears to be at least eight Democratic votes to reopen the government — even though progressive Democratic senators vented their frustration with the potential deal.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Somehow, in honoring the group’s women, from the rageful housewife Margie (Betsy Aidem) to the radical author Celeste (Kristolyn Lloyd), Flood’s outpouring becomes a lament.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
7 Nov. 2025
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Her work has been featured in retreats, leadership circles, and coaching programs, where she is celebrated for her emotional depth and ability to catalyze radical transformation.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unorthodox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unorthodox. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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