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 In a different era, such an arrangement was seen as unorthodox. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 22 Oct. 2026 In that Comedy Central show, Fielder played a would-be business consultant who attempted to help real business owners by proposing unorthodox solutions to market their services. — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026 Although his roles were ostensibly romantic leads, Astaire had an almost radically unorthodox appeal—one that, in its urbanity, cosmopolitanism, elegance, and grace, challenged the prevailing standards for male movie stardom. — David Hajdu, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026 This chaos, though, turned into order when the team processed their data in a slightly unorthodox way. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unorthodox

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unorthodox

Adjective

The show’s unconventional theme holds a sense of both exploration and optimism.

— News Desk, Artforum, 12 Nov. 2026
But Nvidia soon almost went bust after the company designed an unconventional chip that few game developers could use.

— Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of unconventional

Adjective

Those same processors eventually proved exceptionally well suited to the massive parallel calculations required for modern artificial intelligence.

— Steve Mollman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2026
The tattoo artist is licensed in French Polynesia and works with modern sterile equipment.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Nov. 2026

Definition of modern

Adjective

The informal meetup was intended as a way to convey the chiefs’ collective wisdom and experience—and to offer, in miniature, a nuts-and-bolts version of the transition of executive power that is a hallmark of American democracy.

— Chris Whipple, Vanity Fair, 10 Nov. 2026
That has made neighborhood businesses increasingly important as informal galleries, giving artists a place to reach customers, sell their work and build recognition.

— J.M. Banks November 10, Kansas City Star, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of informal

Adjective

Vladimir presses his prisoner to inform on Father Mikulski (Dourif), a dissident Eastern Orthodox priest who has published an anti-Soviet pamphlet.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2026
The head of the United Kingdom’s MI5 spy agency said Iran is trying to strike military sites in Britain, going beyond the traditional targets of dissident Iranians.

— Jared Gans, The Hill, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of dissident

Adjective

But the mood about data centers and AI has turned negative in both liberal and conservative circles.

— Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 13 Nov. 2026
Where liberal thought had banished the criterion of revenge from all considerations of justice, a politics of purity had brought it back.

— Dominic Erdozain, Time, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of liberal

Adjective

None of it feels remotely tied to the zeitgeist, instead showing an artist galvanized by their own out-there proclivities and exhilarated by the limitations of whatever ramshackle gear might be lying around a home studio.

— Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
For music this uncompromising and out-there, the process is just as, if not more, important as the result.

— Reed Jackson, SPIN, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of out-there

Adjective

The contest was a contentious, generational and intra-party battle between Matsui, who has represented the region since 2005, and Vang, a progressive member of the Sacramento City Council.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2026
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of progressive

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 15 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of unorthodox

adjective

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