ˌən-ik-ˈsep-sh(ə-)nəl
as in normal
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events
the physicist, now regarded as one of the brightest minds in science, was an unexceptional student as a child
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Recent Examples of unexceptional
Dad had always told me his father was a naval officer who'd had an unexceptional career and died suddenly in a traffic accident.
—
CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
The monologue that led to Kimmel’s involuntary hiatus was thoroughly unexceptional for the show.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
Aaron Rodgers has plenty to prove heading into the Pittsburgh Steelers' season opener after a rather unexceptional 2024 from both a team and an individual perspective.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
The site includes several unexceptional museums housed in palaces, but two must-see attractions are the Mosque of Mohammed Ali and the Gawhara Terrace for a fantastic view over Cairo.
—Nada El Sawy, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for unexceptional
CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
The monologue that led to Kimmel’s involuntary hiatus was thoroughly unexceptional for the show.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
Aaron Rodgers has plenty to prove heading into the Pittsburgh Steelers' season opener after a rather unexceptional 2024 from both a team and an individual perspective.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
The site includes several unexceptional museums housed in palaces, but two must-see attractions are the Mosque of Mohammed Ali and the Gawhara Terrace for a fantastic view over Cairo.
—Nada El Sawy, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for unexceptional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unexceptional
Adjective
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Now that the garden is complete aside from normal plant replacements, Sterman recognizes it as the expression of her own evolution and growth as a garden designer as well as changing views on waterwise gardening.—
Nicole Sours Larson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 June 2026
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The West Coast is also bracing for rising temperatures, with highs climbing to 10 to 25 degrees above normal this weekend.—
Christine Rapp,
NBC news,
13 June 2026
Adjective
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The company’s founders say the idea came from watching ordinary people struggle to access opportunities that increasingly depended on technical knowledge.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
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Late Thursday, the plaintiffs filed a motion asking the court to order the Pentagon to resume its ordinary review process for new wind energy projects.—
Jennifer McDermott,
Fortune,
15 June 2026
Adjective
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Cynthia goes down the list of people Shamea is clashing with and, as usual, all roads lead to Porsha.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
-
The scramble as the deadline approached was more intense than usual this year because of the state’s new congressional districts, which upended the careers of incumbents and opened opportunities for a slew of other hopefuls.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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Conversely, the department said its review of medical school admissions data from 2023 to 2025 found that 93% of white and certain Asian applicants had MCAT scores at or above those of the average Black student.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
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In 2012, the average American adult shifted focus after 74 seconds; today, that’s down to 47 seconds.—
Christian Perry,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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Activities include vacation standards like pools and a beach club along with less typical offerings like horseback riding on the beach, beach shelling by golf cart, and the resort’s Hawk Walk.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
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Reporters from England said this is a typical setup for the press covering the England men’s national team.—
Pete Grathoff
June 14,
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2026
Adjective
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Tuesday’s announcement marked the rare selection of an all-male crew, which has not been commonplace at NASA for years.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
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Seeing an American on the roster of a top European club is now commonplace, unlike at the turn of the century.—
Julian Cardillo,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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Then there was Indigo’s Hour, an unremarkable 18-year-old bourbon that did not live up to the hype (or price).—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
12 June 2026
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Based in the middle of the country, and middle of the road in terms of recent, unremarkable achievement, and unlikely to polarize or offend millions of Prince William’s future subjects, Aston Villa was the perfect choice for someone who hopes to unify rather than divide.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unexceptional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unexceptional. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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