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
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
One man toted a fluorescent-green poster board that offered a reward for unorthodox medical assistance.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
In early 2025, the economy was adapting to the new administration’s unorthodox business approach.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025
Speaking after the trial day on Monday night, Hinshaw expressed concern about his friend's fate but suggested there might be a method to the madness of Routh's unorthodox defense strategy.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unorthodox
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 7 Oct. 2025
One man toted a fluorescent-green poster board that offered a reward for unorthodox medical assistance.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
In early 2025, the economy was adapting to the new administration’s unorthodox business approach.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025
Speaking after the trial day on Monday night, Hinshaw expressed concern about his friend's fate but suggested there might be a method to the madness of Routh's unorthodox defense strategy.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unorthodox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unorthodox
Adjective
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According to Rusch, the family has always done things in an unconventional way because of her and Thiemo’s careers.—
Victoria Uwumarogie,
Essence,
3 Nov. 2025
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Her songs—influenced by rock, punk, and reggae—are striking and confident and cathartic, but unconventional in ways that challenge the casual listener.—
Amy Weiss-Meyer,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The cropped, slim fit gives it a modern shape that layers cleanly under blazers or coats.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
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The franchise fired its modern star Melissa Barrera over posts in support of Palestine.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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After an informal question and answer session with several representatives from TCEQ, more than a dozen people stepped to the microphone to deliver comments on the proposal.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Oct. 2025
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It’s supported education for refugee children, clean water and sanitation, livelihoods for informal waste pickers and funded factory decarbonization initiatives.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
31 Oct. 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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The actress has been a lifelong supporter of liberal and progressive causes, from transgender rights to electing more women to political office.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
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Mellon, who once supported liberal social initiatives, later shifted toward conservative views, expressing criticism of large federal welfare programs.—
Jessica Coacci,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 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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Hamida’s decision not to go to India comes with the recognition that the return of thousands of abducted women to their families wasn’t an indication that society was suddenly progressive.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
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The actress has been a lifelong supporter of liberal and progressive causes, from transgender rights to electing more women to political office.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In a 30-minute interview, Martin defended how the party has been managing its internal divisions, and pushed back at Republicans who have accused Democrats of embracing violence and radical politics.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
31 Oct. 2025
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Yet Mamdani proposes to turn Gotham into a laboratory for radical economic redistribution and left-wing social engineering.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unorthodox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unorthodox. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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