1
as in unconventional
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices
a time when people with unorthodox religious views were banished from the colony
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2
as in modern
not bound by traditional ways or beliefs
raised by an aunt, whose unorthodox parenting practices made for a strange but fun childhood
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3
as in informal
not rigidly following established form, custom, or rules
an unorthodox but effective procedure for opening a wine bottle without a corkscrew
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unorthodox
With an unorthodox approach and apparently dramatic results, RTM invites—and demands—scrutiny.
—
Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 2 June 2025
Cash’s other unorthodox bat was uncorked, but disallowed.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 30 May 2025
The White House also points to other positives, such as falling gas prices and rising gross domestic investment, as proof that its unorthodox economics are paying dividends.
—Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 30 May 2025
But at a time when many mainstream figures are looking for a way — any way — into the podcasting gold rush, Ms. Amanpour sees her unorthodox reunion with Mr. Rubin as an example of how to build bridges against the odds.
—Elizabeth Paton, New York Times, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unorthodox
Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 2 June 2025
Cash’s other unorthodox bat was uncorked, but disallowed.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 30 May 2025
The White House also points to other positives, such as falling gas prices and rising gross domestic investment, as proof that its unorthodox economics are paying dividends.
—Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 30 May 2025
But at a time when many mainstream figures are looking for a way — any way — into the podcasting gold rush, Ms. Amanpour sees her unorthodox reunion with Mr. Rubin as an example of how to build bridges against the odds.
—Elizabeth Paton, New York Times, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unorthodox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unorthodox
Adjective
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Use generative prompts during ideation to spark unconventional ideas that can act as creative springboards.—
Anusha Nerella,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
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Palmeiras have a very attractive style of football, and Porto did some impressive, and in places unconventional, defending.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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Many found themselves out of work, while those who did find jobs discovered they were paid less than the Danish workers arriving in droves to build infrastructure or modern apartment buildings.—
Morten Høi Jensen,
The Dial,
19 June 2025
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But the most powerful flare measured with modern methods was in 2003.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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The partnership was a crash course for them both: an informal academy with a class roster of two.—
Josh Rottenberg,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2025
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Chris Jackson/Getty Images At one stage, the king had hoped for a more informal meeting in Scotland, where the royals spend their summer holiday.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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Eduard Limonov then—an appropriate nom de plume for a dissident poet arriving in 1974 New York, a metropolis of graffiti and project fires, of blackouts and serial killers.—
Ed Simon
June 23,
Literary Hub,
23 June 2025
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Jafar Panahi — the Iranian dissident filmmaker who has been arrested, jailed, and banned from filmmaking numerous times in his home country due to his powerful and provocative work — took home the top prize.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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For liberal leaning shows, that number shrinks significantly, around 1 million for MSNBC and 558,000 for CNN.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
21 June 2025
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Haley shows strength with liberal Republicans (16 percent), but that bloc makes up a small portion of the party.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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For now, there’s nothing quite so out-there, although deer blood is the star ingredient in the final dessert, a chocolate-ish (but cocoa-free) fondant served with hazelnut praline and malt ice cream.—
Ann Abel,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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An out-there premise, for sure, but one that has so far worked out better than anyone had a right to expect.—
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz,
StyleCaster,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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With many candidates vehemently opposed to Cuomo, their supporters' next-round votes can help Mamdani, who is endorsed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive star.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
20 June 2025
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Bloomberg’s differences with Mamdani, who has expressed anti-Israel views on top of his progressive plan to make child care and buses free in the city, likely motivated him to get involved.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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The administration’s radical and peremptory elimination of U.S. foreign assistance removed a lever of American influence and telegraphed a level of indifference that will not go unnoticed.—
KORI SCHAKE,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
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Anyone who reads history knows the only reason any workers anywhere have any sort of rights is because past workers formed unions, and radical, militant ones at that.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unorthodox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unorthodox. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
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