ˌən-kən-ˈven(t)-sh(ə-)nəl
1
as in dissident
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices
the Shakers acquired their name because of their unconventional practice of dancing with shaking movements during worship
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in modern
not bound by traditional ways or beliefs
had unconventional opinions on the raising of children
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in informal
not rigidly following established form, custom, or rules
young, creative people who lead unconventional but fulfilling lifestyles
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unconventional
Netanyahu, who praised Mr. Trump for having unconventional ideas, met Thursday with Senate Majority Leader John Thune and a bipartisan group of senators.
—
Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2025
Their unconventional meet-cute quickly becomes a survive-the-night story.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 6 Feb. 2025
But being unconventional is also part of Wilson’s modus operandi, central to the dichotomy between his life as an elite runner and high school student.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
Rachelle Hruska took over The Bowery last night—the downtown landmark which also happens to be co-owned by her husband Sean MacPherson—to stage a show, which was not only beautifully curated but also a bit unconventional and fun.
—Irene Kim, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unconventional 
Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2025
Their unconventional meet-cute quickly becomes a survive-the-night story.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 6 Feb. 2025
But being unconventional is also part of Wilson’s modus operandi, central to the dichotomy between his life as an elite runner and high school student.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
Rachelle Hruska took over The Bowery last night—the downtown landmark which also happens to be co-owned by her husband Sean MacPherson—to stage a show, which was not only beautifully curated but also a bit unconventional and fun.
—Irene Kim, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unconventional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unconventional
Adjective
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Politics Trump won’t punish Saudi Arabia or its crown prince for killing of dissident journalist Nov. 20, 2018 Saudi Arabia does, however, rely predominantly on U.S.-made weapons and defense systems, which could be a part of the investment.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2025
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The most significant package came in February 2024, when Biden announced over 500 new sanctions against Moscow, prompted both by the invasion and the death of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Instead, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, one of Turkey’s founding fathers, reorganized the remnants of the Ottoman army, launched the Turkish War of Independence, and reclaimed the territory that would become modern Turkey.—
Sefa Secen & Serhun Al / Made by History,
TIME,
7 Feb. 2025
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In matters of texture, cotton, knits, and compelling fabrics arrived in the form of modern corsetry, slick pantsuits, and boisterous dresses in assorted hues.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Her informal show-and-tell presentation came at a time when Super Bowl tickets had ballooned past $100 per seat.—
Dan Wiederer,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2025
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Zoom in: The question of whether to form a formal Jewish Caucus has been a point of contention for years among Jewish lawmakers, who have often met as an informal Jewish members' working group.—
Andrew Solender,
Axios,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In the dissenting view, the star collapses to the edge of the event horizon and then hovers there, or rebounds and explodes.—
Corey S. Powell,
Discover Magazine,
26 Feb. 2015
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The document runs to more than a hundred and fifty pages, and for each question there are affirmative and dissenting studies, as well as some that indicate mixed results.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
3 June 2022
Adjective
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Neither wanted to talk to IndieWire about the rapidly rising controversy (Leone didn’t respond to our request either), but their progressive views have been readily visible online for months.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
8 Feb. 2025
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The energetic resistance movement that emerged to oppose Mr. Trump’s 2016 election — and that delivered Democrats the House in a 2018 landslide — made progressive aspirations for racial and gender equity seem more within reach.—
Shane Goldmacher,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Despite their myriad out-there elements, his books were often optioned for films, but only one was ever made — Gus Van Sant’s 1993 adaptation of Cowgirls, which was a critical and commercial flop.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
10 Feb. 2025
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That’s probably the most out-there aspect of the show.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This Carter button, in the campaign’s signature green, summed up their politically balanced ticket: Deep South partnered with far North, appealing to liberal and conservative Democrats alike.—
Bill Marsh,
New York Times,
31 Dec. 2024
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South Korea’s conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol — weakened after the liberal opposition retained control in an April election -– astonished the country by declaring martial law in a late-night announcement on Dec. 3.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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But once police buildings started burning in 2020, the bar for genuinely radical symbolism raised exponentially.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2025
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Trump, however, promised a radical overhaul of the U.S. immigration system.—
CD Goette-Luciak,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near unconventional
Cite this Entry
“Unconventional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unconventional. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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