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

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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 Moreover, compulsory voting is not unusual elsewhere in the world. — Susan Ostermann, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2026 The thought process is not unusual in the NFL, especially for Day 3 draft picks like Allen. — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026 Still, the outcry—and the lack of outspoken public support even from those federations and allies that Infantino has made a show of propping up—had unusual force and breadth. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026 Pay attention to unusual rattling, buzzing, grinding or squealing sounds. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 31 July 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
  • Severe deficiency is uncommon, but nutrition experts say chronically low intake can signal a dietary gap worth addressing.
    — Lauren Manaker MS, Health, 31 July 2026
  • Cases of rabies in pets, such as horses, dogs and cats, are uncommon because many pet owners vaccinate their animals against rabies, according to the California Department of Public Health.
    — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 31 July 2026
Definition of uncommon
Adjective
  • The challenge before us is serious, but the promise of American higher education remains extraordinary.
    — Daniel Diermeier, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Today’s leading model will eventually be replaced, and capabilities that seem extraordinary now will become familiar.
    — Brent Saunders, Fortune, 31 July 2026
Definition of extraordinary
Adjective
  • That strange sense of incompletion hung over the Detroit Tigers’ clubhouse Saturday night.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Having collaborated with his parents since the late 1980s, Berenstain was no stranger to furthering the family legacy.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of strange
Adjective
  • Many of them feature amenities like a basketball court, weight rooms and a pool, while others may have unique features like boxing gyms or an ice rink.
    — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
  • Because there’s a certain level of difficulty involved in taking a song fans know well, and expect to hear a particular way, and successfully putting a unique spin upon it.
    — Jim Ryan, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of unique
Adjective
  • Gu-cheon is arrogant, conspicuously misplaced in the palace hierarchy, and in some sneaky ways, dryly funny, in stark contrast to co-star Roh Yoon Seo’s more determined, earnest portrayal of court lady Saeng Gang.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • That ethos bled into the script read, which saw the crew assembled take swings with the material and inject a bit more comedy into the already funny original film.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 29 July 2026
Definition of funny
Adjective
  • The exceptional duration is the result of a precise combination of celestial mechanics.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • There are normally no checks at borders between members of the EU’s internal Schengen Area, though they can be introduced for a limited time in exceptional circumstances.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Definition of exceptional
Adjective
  • Chip Honcho seems unlikely to be enormously loved by the track money, but weirder things have happened.
    — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • This is a problem with anything that gets into that weird private equity, conglomerate zone.
    — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026
Definition of weird
Adjective
  • The Kansas City Royals began Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Twins with a pair of rare occurrences.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
  • Trinitite contains a novel, cagelike clathrate crystal and quasicrystals, rare materials, once thought impossible, that contain nonrepeating atomic structures.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 29 July 2026
Definition of rare

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Cite this Entry

“Unusual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unusual. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of unusual for Spanish Speakers

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