dissimilar

adjective

dis·​sim·​i·​lar (ˌ)di(s)-ˈsi-mə-lər How to pronounce dissimilar (audio)
-ˈsim-lər
Synonyms of dissimilarnext
: 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 adverb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The raucous reception Liu received was not dissimilar to the one Brian Boitano received in 1988 when the Sunnyvale product skated at the Cow Palace after winning gold. Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 18 May 2026 Not dissimilar to how the need to make a living day in and day out forces most individuals to continue being part of the machine, while war, death, and chaos are delivered to us instantly via screens. Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 May 2026 Other possible candidates include Mahmood, the Home Secretary, who isn’t widely known to the public, and Ed Miliband, a former leader of the Party, whose spell in charge was littered with mistakes that weren’t all that dissimilar from Starmer’s. Sam Knight, New Yorker, 14 May 2026 The front of the home has large, white columns, not dissimilar to the White House, and red brick leading down to a driveway. Irene Wright, USA Today, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dissimilar

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of dissimilar was in 1599

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dissimilar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissimilar. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

dissimilar

adjective
dis·​sim·​i·​lar (ˈ)dis-ˈ(s)im-ə-lər How to pronounce dissimilar (audio)
dissimilarly adverb

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