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
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Recent Examples of unusual
His unusual rise to fame started in the mid-2010s.
—
Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026
Surrounding the morganites with neutral and unusual tones lets their color shine even brighter.
—Jill Newman, Robb Report, 18 June 2026
Earlier this year, Moderna’s data was at the center of a highly unusual public dispute as a then-top FDA official blocked the company’s application for its first-of-its-kind shot.
—ABC News, 18 June 2026
Reading reviews, questioning unusual details and taking your time choosing a booking is also recommended for travelers.
—Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unusual
Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026
Surrounding the morganites with neutral and unusual tones lets their color shine even brighter.
—Jill Newman, Robb Report, 18 June 2026
Earlier this year, Moderna’s data was at the center of a highly unusual public dispute as a then-top FDA official blocked the company’s application for its first-of-its-kind shot.
—ABC News, 18 June 2026
Reading reviews, questioning unusual details and taking your time choosing a booking is also recommended for travelers.
—Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unusual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unusual
Adjective
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Tornadoes are not uncommon in Streator, a small rural town about 100 miles southwest of Chicago.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
-
Todd Sohn, chief ETF strategist at Strategas Securities, says the pattern is familiar, even if the scale is uncommon.—
Krysta Escobar,
CNBC,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
Our work complements beautifully the extraordinary work that has already been done by the producers, sales agents and distributors of Mike Leigh’s films over the years.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
22 June 2026
-
The Vietnam War was fought by young Americans thrust into extraordinary circumstances.—
Gary MacNamara,
Hartford Courant,
22 June 2026
Adjective
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Informal Beyblade battles are popping up in strangest of places, with players huddling in parks, gyms and shopping malls.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
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The falseness of the medium, though, jibed with the falseness of most attempts, throughout American history, to make sense of this enormous, strange man.—
Christopher Hooks,
Harpers Magazine,
23 June 2026
Adjective
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The overlap between Juneteenth celebrations and World Cup festivities has created a unique opportunity for Kansas City’s Black cultural institutions.—
J.M. Banks
June 20,
Kansas City Star,
20 June 2026
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The red varieties with burgundy leaves are an excellent contrast to dahlia foliage, and their unique blooms last for weeks in the garden.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 June 2026
Adjective
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Other members of the cast contribute some sharp edges and moments that are legitimately funny.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
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Someone’s losing their dignity, and that’s funny.—
Jesse David Fox,
Vulture,
18 June 2026
Adjective
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Each is 72+ pages long and features an exceptional design printed on premium paper.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 June 2026
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So to commemorate the occasion, the distillery team decided to release a pair of truly rare and exceptional age statement expressions.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
So, that was kind of quite weird.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
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But storefronts across the city have long been weird hodgepodges, rife with misspellings and aesthetic incoherence.—
Clio Chang,
Curbed,
22 June 2026
Adjective
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Even as brutal heat waves become longer, more frequent and more intense in Europe, air conditioning remains very rare in European homes.—
Taylor Ward,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
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With one out, Paul Goldschmidt beat out a rare infield single before Chisholm homered to right-center.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unusual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unusual. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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