1
as in unfamiliar
happening or existing without one's knowledge
unknown to me was the fact that while I was out, my family was hurriedly preparing a surprise birthday party
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in novel
not known or experienced before
becoming a father brought unknown joy to his life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obscure
not widely known
looking for a relatively unknown singer to record the song
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of unknown
Vendor lists are like your Netflix queue (mostly unknown).
—
Aleksandr Yampolskiy, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
The cause of the fire remains unknown and is being investigated by officials.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Set high in the French Alps just minutes from the Swiss border, Lake Annecy is a prime destination in both summer and winter for European vacationers—but it's often overlooked (or simply unknown) by many Americans in favor of nearby ski (and après) meccas Chamonix, Grenoble, or Geneva.
—Michael Venutolo-Mantovani, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Dec. 2024
Authorities traced the fire to the garage, but the cause of the blaze is still unknown.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 1 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unknown 
Aleksandr Yampolskiy, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
The cause of the fire remains unknown and is being investigated by officials.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Set high in the French Alps just minutes from the Swiss border, Lake Annecy is a prime destination in both summer and winter for European vacationers—but it's often overlooked (or simply unknown) by many Americans in favor of nearby ski (and après) meccas Chamonix, Grenoble, or Geneva.
—Michael Venutolo-Mantovani, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Dec. 2024
Authorities traced the fire to the garage, but the cause of the blaze is still unknown.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 1 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unknown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unknown
Adjective
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The fields of law and insurance are extremely complicated for the layperson, with documents full of terms and concepts that may as well be a foreign language to those unfamiliar with them.Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
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For those who are unfamiliar, Yule Log shows are typically a simple shot of a crackling fire that viewers play on their TVs during the Christmas holiday season to replicate the cozy vibe of fireplace.James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The result improved on the efficiency of previous packings, while making use of a novel approach: Rather than packing spheres in a nice, organized way, as Viazovska had done, the mathematicians used graph theory to pack spheres in a very disorderly fashion.Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 16 Dec. 2024
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This type of ping-ponging of priorities from administration to administration is typical, but the change is expected to be even more pronounced, given Abruzzo’s novel approach.Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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From 1981—nearly three months before MTV’s own debut, in fact—until 1988, Night Flight was a subcultural beacon, broadcasting not just obscure music videos but also documentaries like Another State of Mind and Urgh!Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 9 Dec. 2024
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His friends ask to see his top artists — some obvious ones (Kendrick Lamar) then some more obscure choices.EW.com, EW.com, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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When Sandy goes missing, the line between reality and game blurs and Conor must venture into the strange world of OBEX to bring her home.Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024
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At the time, federal law gave the Bureau a strange grab bag of investigative duties, ranging from interstate prostitution to antitrust violations.Beverly Gage, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Most email security systems are set up to flag obvious phishing markers, such as unrecognized senders or websites with known malware.Lars Daniel, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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Significant congenital abnormalities may cause severe symptoms at or shortly after birth, whereas milder congenital defects may not cause symptoms and can go unrecognized for decades.6 For example, a bicuspid aortic valve is a common abnormality.Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 25 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie turned the wizardly backstory into an epic adventure, opening a gateway for young unbeknownst fantasy fans everywhere while also delivering a classically wholesome story about the importance of family and a parent's unconditional love.EW Staff, EW.com, 1 July 2024
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For a surprise at the end, unbeknownst even to King, Winfrey arranged a path lined with sparklers, framing the couple in a golden glow against the night sky.Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 6 June 2024
Adjective
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The potential for malicious actors to exploit these systems poses an unprecedented threat to public safety.Songyee Yoon, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
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Unmistakeably, though, there is wear and tear in Villa’s legs after an unprecedented and hugely congested calendar year.Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Any new import levies are on a collision course with stubbornly flat industrial production — a crucial driver of domestic and international volume from sectors that include mining, manufacturing, chemicals and electricity — and lingering overcapacity from the COVID shipping boom, experts said.Lisa Baertlein, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024
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From there, the star walked down a grand staircase as a spectacle of back-up dancers and swinging napkins from the audience took the performance to new heights.James Dinh, Billboard, 13 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Unknown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unknown. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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