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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2
as in modern
not bound by traditional ways or beliefs
had unconventional opinions on the raising of children
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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of unconventional
From cooking on film sets in Rabat, Morocco, to improvising meals on a Pacific island, O'Connor's unconventional culinary journey laid the foundation for a product that quickly became a go-to for travelers worldwide.
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Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Polis is not your typical Democrat, and the party needs someone unconventional to revamp it.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024
Yet this may be just the moment for the unconventional, unpredictable, and unintentional chaos that appears to be on order from a Trump presidency.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024
Less unconventional data viz moments like in previous years (like the city matches, zodiac signs, etc).
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unconventional 
Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Polis is not your typical Democrat, and the party needs someone unconventional to revamp it.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024
Yet this may be just the moment for the unconventional, unpredictable, and unintentional chaos that appears to be on order from a Trump presidency.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024
Less unconventional data viz moments like in previous years (like the city matches, zodiac signs, etc).
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unconventional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unconventional
Adjective
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In 2022, four days after Russia invaded Ukraine, the authorities shut down the group International Memorial, which had been founded in the late ’80s by the former dissident Andrei Sakharov and others to monitor political imprisonment and preserve memories of Stalinist terror.Leon Aron, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2024
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The group’s incendiary music forces them to deal with police harassment, political threats and dissident republican attacks, all while navigating personal struggles and backlash from society at large.Travis Bean, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
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All of these things suggest some alignment with the current FTC’s priorities, particularly in recognizing the role that tech companies play in the modern economy and the importance of vigorously enforcing the nation’s antitrust laws.Brian Fung, CNN, 15 Dec. 2024
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But all your papers require context, Gabriel, even the modern ones.Daisy Hildyard, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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One notable trend is the rise of authentic, informal leadership communication.Feon Ang, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
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The military activity occurred over 24 hours from Saturday to Sunday morning, with six aircraft crossing the Taiwan Strait's median line, an informal boundary between the two sides.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
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
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Different regions and demographic groups in this country support a wide range of ideals—both progressive and conservative.Ryan Smith, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
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In February, the broadcast veteran shared she had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, a rare nervous system syndrome, and dementia.DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Low-Energy Nuclear Reactions NERD’s out-there pursuit was low-energy nuclear reactions (LENR)—still popularly known as cold fusion.IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 25 Nov. 2024
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There was a lot of performance art – really weird, interesting, out-there performance theaters were going.Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Its most infamous crime was the 1984 murder of Alan Berg, an outspoken, liberal, Jewish radio host in Denver.Zach Baylin, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
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At least seven Liberal members of parliament have publicly called on Trudeau to step down, and more have done so privately according to sources, CNN-affiliate CBC News reported.Lex Harvey, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024
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Everything that was radical and interesting was going on, except inside the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, which was very old-fashioned, quite stale in its approach to things.Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2024
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Kedar said that despite their radical roots, the opening indications were positive.Mick Krever, CNN, 8 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near unconventional
Cite this Entry
“Unconventional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unconventional. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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