1
as in unusual
being out of the ordinary
the postal service delivered the package with atypical speed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in abnormal
departing from some accepted standard of what is normal
since that's an atypical response for an infant, you might want to have her hearing tested
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of atypical
But the issue extends beyond atypical cases such as that one.
—
Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2026
She was diagnosed with an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) four weeks later.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
Incredible displays of competence and poise under pressure hold the film’s plot, but Red October’s leading men are thoughtful and introspective in the quiet moments, which feels atypical for the genre.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
He could’ve been put to death because the people in charge didn’t want to consider any kind of atypical behavior as anything more than evidence of a nefarious mind.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atypical
Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2026
She was diagnosed with an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) four weeks later.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
Incredible displays of competence and poise under pressure hold the film’s plot, but Red October’s leading men are thoughtful and introspective in the quiet moments, which feels atypical for the genre.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
He could’ve been put to death because the people in charge didn’t want to consider any kind of atypical behavior as anything more than evidence of a nefarious mind.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atypical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atypical
Adjective
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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
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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
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Stray dogs aren’t an abnormal occurrence but Sierra had something most stray dogs didn’t.—
Garfield Hylton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2026
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Goenka said one signature of early cancer that the AI model was able to detect is abnormal cells in the pancreas that shelter and protect cancer from the body’s immune defenses.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
2 May 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
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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
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The time was unnatural, sometime after midnight.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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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
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Noël Coward’s writing for drunk is exceptional.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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This routine isn’t exactly unique.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
3 May 2026
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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
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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
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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
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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
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But the reality is Diaz, 34, is a hitter of uncommon consistency.—
John Romano,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Atypical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atypical. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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