dissimilar

adjective

dis·​sim·​i·​lar (ˌ)di(s)-ˈsi-mə-lər 

-ˈsim-lər

: not the same or similar : different or unalike

people with dissimilar backgrounds

dissimilar materials

The responsibilities of the resident were not dissimilar to those of the intern …

—James D. Hardy

dissimilarly

(ˈ)di(s)-ˈsi-mə-lər-lē 

-ˈsim-lər-

adverb

Synonyms

• different
• disparate
• distant
• distinct
• distinctive
• distinguishable
• diverse
• nonidentical
• other
• unalike
• unlike

Examples of dissimilar in a Sentence

The two movies are very dissimilar.

The writers have dissimilar backgrounds.

The question is not dissimilar to one asked earlier.

Recent Examples on the Web

Then in the early evening, No. 12 Oklahoma puts its undefeated record on the line at No. 5 Alabama, in a situation not too dissimilar from Florida and Kentucky. —Brendan Marks, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025

After about a minute, Edwards retires the instrument, and the production becomes a big dance number—not too dissimilar from the rendition most viewers are familiar with today. —Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Dec. 2024

In this design, the researchers ran copper wire with a 75 micrometer diameter through the electrode, matching the copper catalyst layer to eliminate the risk of electrolysis between dissimilar metals. —IEEE Spectrum, 18 Dec. 2024

Beyond the most basic genre-crossing surface similarities, these two records could hardly be more dissimilar in their ambitions and how they’ve been received by radio, critics and different subsets of fans. —Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin dissimilāris, from Latin dis- dis- + Medieval Latin similāris similar

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dissimilar

• not dissimilar

Kids Definition

dissimilar

adjective

dis·​sim·​i·​lar (ˈ)dis-ˈ(s)im-ə-lər 

: different sense 1, unlike

dissimilarity

(ˌ)dis-ˌ(s)im-ə-ˈlar-ət-ē 

noun

dissimilarly

(ˈ)dis-ˈ(s)im-ə-lər-lē 

adverb