UNUSUAL Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

unusual

adjective

ˌən-ˈyü-zhə-wəl

Definition of unusual

as in uncommon

noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced we found some unusual shells by the high-tide mark while combing the beach

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in extraordinary

being out of the ordinary the famously arrogant actor accepted his award with unusual grace and humility

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 unusual The savvy Toronto audiences enjoy their festival’s reputation as an Oscar kingmaker, too, so the idea of helping launch Club Kid to an unusual but increasingly plausible Oscar run could appeal to the voters. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026 An unusual mid-decade redistricting wave, including in California, has left 1 in 10 Americans in new congressional districts as voting-rights advocates urge people to cast ballots early, in person or by mail. — Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026 In a highly unusual move, Buckingham Palace (who initially declined to comment on the book), issued a detailed statement questioning the accuracy of the claims. — Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair, 18 Sep. 2026 The movement’s tiny footprint became a catalyst for experimentation, giving Blancpain’s designers unusual freedom, resulting in Ladybird watches concealed within bracelets, cuffs, rings, and pendants. — Taylor Stoddard, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unusual

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unusual

Adjective

Other uncommon marine animals have wandered into California waters this year.

— Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Daytime activity is not uncommon and does not necessarily indicate rabies.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of uncommon

Adjective

The Tigers repeatedly found explosive gains through the air, some created not by an extraordinary throw but by a defensive breakdown.

— Taylor Eldridge, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2026
The adventure experts at EYOS Expeditions have curated a new journey that combines a deep-water expedition with all the extraordinary wonders of Alaska’s wilderness.

— Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of extraordinary

Adjective

In a small town, several dead people are brought back to life through a strange ritual involving burning duck manure.

— Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
Back outside, the strangest part of the scene might have been how normal everything seemed to the people wearing crimson and blue.

— Taylor Eldridge, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of strange

Adjective

But this cycle, Republicans are doing so with unique political headwinds, chief among them the war in Iran.

— David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 20 Sep. 2026
Rather than excavating and extensively modifying hundreds of unique Minuteman-era facilities, the Air Force is developing a standardized, modular construction approach for the new silos.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of unique

Adjective

On paper, the script didn’t seem that funny, and the looseness of it all — the clowning, the lack of a traditional plot structure — seemed kind of slapdash.

— Victor Garber, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
The play touches on issues of male bonding, family, reentering the dating pool, loss, grief and despair, while being very funny almost all the time.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of funny

Adjective

Michelin has introduced a rating of wineries where one grape denotes a very good producer; two an excellent producer, and three an exceptional producer.

— Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2026
But a player who is exceptional at the sport but lacks notoriety is a different story.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of exceptional

Adjective

At low volume, failures are rare enough that the stakes are low.

— Shivansh Inamdar, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
But in a rare moment, the bosses of Anthropic, OpenAI and xAI have come together to support the view that the development of AI models should slow down amid growing fears over the technology's capacity to cause harm.

— Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of rare

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unused

unusual

unusually

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“Unusual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unusual. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of unusual

adjective

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