unprecedented

adjective

ˌən-ˈpre-sə-ˌden-təd How to pronounce unprecedented (audio)
Definition of unprecedentednext
as in novel
not known or experienced before this is an unprecedented request for the reference desk

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 unprecedented A matter of climate and security Relocating populations to make way for dams is far from unprecedented in the region — though the practice often proves controversial. — Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026 District officials took the unprecedented step of shutting down all district computer systems to limit the damage. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026 Need for steady baseload energy The initiative arrives as power grids face unprecedented demand. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026 In the world of philanthropy, the money moved at unprecedented speed. — Christopher Spata, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unprecedented
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unprecedented
  1. novel
  2. new
  3. strange
  4. unfamiliar
  5. fresh
  6. unheard-of
  7. original
Adjective
  • In 1938 Hungarian journalist László Bíró, fed up with the constant need to refill fountain pens and deal with their messy ink, patented a novel design.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Yet every experiment brings us closer to a system that can learn about novel changes in its surroundings and make informed choices on what action to take next.
    — Mike McRae October 19, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of novel
Adjective
  • While Usher was off basking in the afterglow of Confessions, maturing into a divorcé in the mid-2000s, the R&B world was already priming itself for a new-school successor.
    — Clover Hope, Pitchfork, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Many voters thank him ​for pulling Serbia from economic obscurity and orchestrating a period of sustained modernisation including new highways, railways, schools and hospitals.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of new
Adjective
  • After Orson’s reading from the novel, the broadcast cuts in on a weather report that is then followed by a dance music concert, but the smooth tango music is interrupted by breaking news of strange explosions on Mars.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026
  • However, a strange light phenomenon and the arrival of her physicist ex-husband pull her back into the scientific world.
    — Cooper Katz McKim, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of strange
Adjective
  • The fourth grader and other students hid in an unfamiliar room for about 30 minutes as gunshots erupted nearby.
    — Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Also, look for unfamiliar providers or incorrect information in your medical records.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of unfamiliar
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, Kansas City is also getting a major boost from running back Kenneth Walker III, who signed with the team before the season fresh off winning the Super Bowl MVP award with the Seattle Seahawks.
    — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Readers rave about the flavorful combination of fresh apples, plump, juicy raisins, and cinnamon.
    — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of fresh
Adjective
  • The Financial Times reported last month that Anthropic’s and OpenAI’s IPO advisers were lobbying credit-rating agencies for blue-chip status, which would be almost unheard-of for companies as unprofitable as both AI labs are.
    — Ellen DiMauro, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The museum’s floor plan, especially its curved walls, presented previously unheard-of challenges for exhibiting artworks.
    — Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of unheard-of
Adjective
  • The original owners were vaudevillians who had a mind-reading act and were passionately into the occult.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The new record is the closest that the two have come to infusing their distinctive DJing style into their original productions.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of original

Browse Nearby Words

unpopularity
unprecedented
unpredictability
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unprecedented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unprecedented. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of emissary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All