unused

adjective

ˌən-ˈyüzd How to pronounce unused (audio)
Definition of unusednext
1
as in unadjusted
not having acquired a habit or tolerance the runner's performance suffered because he was unused to running at such high elevations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in new
recently made and never used before preferred to start with unused pencils

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment is there an unused cubicle that the temp could work out of?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 unused The buoyant design also allows the robots to occupy unused three-dimensional indoor space. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026 Take a minute to throw out any unused coffee and clean the pot before your trip. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 July 2026 The Rancho Cordova Police Department said a woman in the vehicle was on a searchable probation, according to a social media post from Wednesday, causing police to find a gun and several unused Narcan kits in the vehicle’s passenger compartment. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2026 The athlete was also an unused substitute for the round of 32 defeat to Canada. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unused
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unused
  1. unadjusted
  2. new
  3. dormant
  4. unadapted
  5. off
  6. unaccustomed
  7. vacant
  8. idle
Adjective
  • The company said its preliminary sales grew just 1% in the past quarter, and its unadjusted earnings per share fell 2% – both below the company’s forecasts.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • Failing to report a stock sale, using an unadjusted cost basis from Form 1099-B, double-reporting equity income, or overlooking AMT issues with incentive stock options can lead to IRS notices or unnecessary overpayment of tax.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of unadjusted
Adjective
  • But with many of the bosses atop those agencies exiting, a new concern over what that may mean is starting.
    — Chris Tye, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • That waterway has taken on new significance since the start of the war, as Saudi Arabia now diverts millions of barrels of crude there to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
Definition of new
Adjective
  • For the better part of a decade, the feud lay relatively dormant.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
  • Aim to water aloe vera about every two to three weeks during summer months and once a month or less when the plant is dormant in winter.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 July 2026
Definition of dormant
Adjective
  • With more than 1,000 chapters still unadapted, the Straw Hats’ voyage could span many more seasons if the show maintains its audience and Netflix continues greenlighting new installments.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026
  • The works of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson had remained unadapted to feature film until Denzel Washington took on the challenge of bringing Fences to the big screen.
    — Kevin Jacobsen and Sammi Burke, EW.com, 17 Nov. 2023
Definition of unadapted
Adjective
  • For the dozens of NHL, minor league and college players who make their off-season homes in Minnesota, informal morning skates at various arenas throughout the Twin Cities have been going on for decades.
    — Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 17 July 2026
  • In May, the Braves have four off days and just two road trips, one to Philadelphia and Detroit followed by another to Kansas City and to New York to face the Mets.
    — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 16 July 2026
Definition of off
Adjective
  • Part of the high-wire act of such books is that the authors and their publishers work at unaccustomed speed to provide the end product with a history-as-it-is-happening varnish.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 23 June 2026
  • Others are introducing them for the first time to an audience unaccustomed to seeing spots at any point during a game except for halftime.
    — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Definition of unaccustomed
Adjective
  • Because of rising costs, only one phase was ever completed, and the land next door that was supposed to be Phase Three continues to sit vacant.
    — John Ramos, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • Homeless encampments that serve as places for drug addicts to shoot up line several vacant and overgrown lots.
    — Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
Definition of vacant
Adjective
  • Steps from City Hall, a two-acre dirt lot once promised as a flagship downtown park instead sits fenced and idle.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026
  • On the higher end, a saver would collect a little more than $2,000 in interest for essentially doing nothing but waiting out the term — money that would otherwise sit idle in a low- or no-interest account.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Definition of idle

Browse Nearby Words

unusable
unused
unusual
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unused. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on unused

Nglish: Translation of unused for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dog days

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
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
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All