1
as in unusual
being out of the ordinary
a completely abnormal school day, because half of the kids were out sick
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unnatural
departing from some accepted standard of what is normal
noticed his abnormal breathing and took him to the emergency room
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 abnormal
Levels starting at 100 mg/dL are considered abnormal.
—
Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Marine Mammal Center After a period of intensive care and quarantine, along with some abnormal behavior that was later resolved, the sea lion began eating well with pen mates in a rehabilitation pool, the center said.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Unlike the time in range guidelines for diabetes, there is no clear framework for what daily glucose patterns are abnormal in people who don’t have diabetes – or what patterns may indicate future disease risks.
—Liao Yue, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2026
Cancer Cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow and multiply uncontrollably, forming tumors.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abnormal
Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Marine Mammal Center After a period of intensive care and quarantine, along with some abnormal behavior that was later resolved, the sea lion began eating well with pen mates in a rehabilitation pool, the center said.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Unlike the time in range guidelines for diabetes, there is no clear framework for what daily glucose patterns are abnormal in people who don’t have diabetes – or what patterns may indicate future disease risks.
—Liao Yue, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2026
Cancer Cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow and multiply uncontrollably, forming tumors.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abnormal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abnormal
Adjective
-
But, in other respects, your approach to the future might have been unusual, at least by our modern lights.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
They have also been shown to exhibit play behavior with objects in their enclosures, highly unusual behavior for a reptile.—
Craig Stanford,
Big Think,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
With the house emptied of living (and costumed) guests, its furnishings, in all their liveliness, appear only to mask an unnatural torpor.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
The time was unnatural, sometime after midnight.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Cheng traces how, with the help of Kim’s son Jong Il and a distant uncle who was once a pastor, Kim borrowed the tactics of religion to solidify extraordinary psychological control over an entire population.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The second-degree murder charge, officially classified as a class 2 felony with an extraordinary risk of harm, carries an average prison sentence of 17 years, according to nonpartisan legislative analysts.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Symptoms can include a rash and flu-like symptoms, with some people going on to experience arthritis, facial palsy, pain, irregular heartbeats and other worsening symptoms.—
Grace Gavilanes,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Getting at least eight hours of sleep may help offset the heart health impacts of moderately irregular sleep timing.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Yet, Bruccoleri is absolutely exceptional in her role as a young woman determined to find her voice in a world that would so easily push her aside due to her appearance and eclectic curiosities.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
6 May 2026
-
Noël Coward’s writing for drunk is exceptional.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
This routine isn’t exactly unique.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
3 May 2026
-
Cascading varieties have a unique habit, with some stems growing upward, and others growing out and slightly down.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
Earlier in the day, Charles delivered a rare address to a joint session of Congress, highlighting the second day of his four-day state visit and placing the spotlight on the strained but enduring relationship between his country and the United States.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Given the popularity of the show, particularly the fashion, style expert George Kotsiopoulos says being able to own an item that your favorite character wore or had in their home is a rare opportunity.—
Kailyn Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
According to her doctors, the transplant was uncommon, as pediatric lungs are typically prioritized for children and only offered to adults under specific circumstances.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
-
But the reality is Diaz, 34, is a hitter of uncommon consistency.—
John Romano,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abnormal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abnormal. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
