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
Rudolph is an average skater who moves well and comfortably through his patterns but can look a little unorthodox doing it at times.
—
Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 3 June 2026
The team has taken the world by storm since 2018, playing baseball in the most unorthodox ways imaginable in professional stadiums across the country.
—Kansas City Star, 31 May 2026
Dippold, Gilpin and Linklater all took something different from this unorthodox detour back in time.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 27 May 2026
And while the reason for the unorthodox format is tragic — throat cancer stole his ability to speak — the effect is magic.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unorthodox
Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 3 June 2026
The team has taken the world by storm since 2018, playing baseball in the most unorthodox ways imaginable in professional stadiums across the country.
—Kansas City Star, 31 May 2026
Dippold, Gilpin and Linklater all took something different from this unorthodox detour back in time.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 27 May 2026
And while the reason for the unorthodox format is tragic — throat cancer stole his ability to speak — the effect is magic.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unorthodox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unorthodox
Adjective
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Pratt, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the race’s most unconventional and unpredictable candidates.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
29 May 2026
-
Last year, Smith acknowledged the artsy small city is an unconventional place to find world-class pizza.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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Walk through a gallery of bronze busts immortalizing the game's greatest players and learn about the evolution of the game from the days of leather helmets to modern gear.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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That's far lower than the traditional 90-day window, and significantly lower than the more modern 45-day barrier.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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The largely informal opposition had consisted mainly of local cities that warned another sales tax would disproportionately burden the poorest residents and force shoppers across the county border in hopes of finding lower costs.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
An informal settlement is a residential area where housing units have been constructed without official rights to the land.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Together, they were recently elected to a Miami support committee for the Concilio Cubano dissident group in Cuba.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
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And major Russian language book fairs, focused on dissident literature, are becoming more common across Europe.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Both accused each other of being secretly liberal or not MAGA enough.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
-
The Supreme Court allowed the firing to go through on a temporary basis, over staunch dissents from the court's three liberal justices.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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Inevitably, this information vacuum has encouraged some pretty out-there speculation.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
9 June 2026
-
Interview With the Vampire was already one of the most balls-to-the-wall, out-there shows on TV, and The Vampire Lestat requires full attention and both sides of your brain to reap the most pleasure.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
7 June 2026
Adjective
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This inequality demonstrates a particular kind of economic and political harm that targets racially diverse and politically progressive young people.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
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In her campaign to be LA’s next mayor, Raman launched a progressive, left-wing bid to oust Bass from within the Democratic Party.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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One of the show’s most radical changes from Broadway is switching the genders of a few characters from male to female.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
4 June 2026
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Byrne and Chace will play brothers amongst a group of men seeking to rediscover their purpose at the radical Reclaim Retreat that promises the transformation of the modern man.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unorthodox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unorthodox. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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