unusual

adjective

ˌən-ˈyü-zhə-wəl How to pronounce unusual (audio)
Definition of unusualnext
1
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
2
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 Eastern Time, headed for Orlando, when the pilot made an unusual announcement. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2026 The unusual move leaves the 19-member parliament without any political opposition. — ABC News, 13 Nov. 2026 The latest incident follows unusual military aircraft movements from Mildenhall earlier this week. — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2026 The reason why Huang’s departure could prove so crucial lies in Nvidia’s unusual corporate structure and the central role Huang has had in its chip design and innovation pipeline since its founding. — Chris Stokel-Walker, Scientific American, 12 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unusual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unusual
  1. uncommon
  2. extraordinary
  3. strange
  4. unique
  5. funny
  6. exceptional
  7. weird
  8. rare
Adjective
  • Narcissists, not uncommon in pop circles, have no such hangups.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Nov. 2026
  • But the Jets’ other three opponents (Tennessee, Cleveland and Arizona) have a 9-17 record, compared with 15-10 for the Dolphins’ uncommon opponents (Cincinnati, San Francisco, Indianapolis).
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of uncommon
Adjective
  • And that's really all down to finding actors who in this extraordinary ensemble have a really terrific sense of humor.
    — Kara Warner, Vanity Fair, 14 Nov. 2026
  • The award recognizes her extraordinary contributions to advancing civil rights, civil liberties and social justice through storytelling.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of extraordinary
Adjective
  • Cristin Tierney Gallery Maureen O’Leary’s paintings at Cristin Tierney are wonderfully strange.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 13 Nov. 2026
  • The extremes of the moral universe have always been duking it out down there, which makes Mississippi not strange or anomalous, but illustrative.
    — Claire Howorth, Vanity Fair, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of strange
Adjective
  • Aleksandra Karapetrova, an alpine enthusiast and environmental scientist at the University of California, Riverside, used her unique skill set to find that microplastics are present in remote Sierra Nevada mountain snow reachable only on skis.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Air ambulance services, though, come with unique challenges, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.
    — Elaine Appleton-Grant, NPR, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of unique
Adjective
  • Set in the future, on the coast of Kent, this unsettling yet funny sci-fi story is about a man who discovers something very strange and seemingly sentient on the beach.
    — Namara Smith, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Only, there’s nothing funny about the show Tampa Bay is watching now, one that might not include Nikita Kucherov for much longer.
    — Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of funny
Adjective
  • While Shelby was clearly an exceptional candidate, his success was largely predicated on your failures.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Why the semiconductor industry is interested in diamond One of diamond’s most attractive properties is its exceptional thermal conductivity.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of exceptional
Adjective
  • In a weird osmosis, the Broncos have become the poster child for getting help from referees after that claim being pinned on the Chiefs for years.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Nov. 2026
  • What a weird thing to introduce for a gag scene, then completely forget about!
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of weird
Adjective
  • The other, in Washington state, died in November 2025 from a rarer version called H5N5.
    — Mike Stobbe, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Both were unbelievably tender and seared to a perfect medium-rare.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of rare

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unusual
unusually
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Cite this Entry

“Unusual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unusual. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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