as in strange
not known or experienced before
ordered an unfamiliar wine and was surprised to find that it was much drier than what they were used to
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unfamiliar
After all, Warsh is still a mostly unfamiliar name to the broader public.
—
Kelly Evans, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
And Morvan was caught off guard when Ryan Murphy featured Milli Vanilli prominently in his 2024 series on the Menendez brothers, a move introducing the group to new generations unfamiliar with the story.
—Christine Terrisse, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
The post won’t be unfamiliar territory for Warsh, 55, who formerly served on the Fed’s Board of Governors from 2006 to 2011.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
True to the video game, the camera never leaves the Iron Lung (a mini-sub with a dark past), and that choice may come as a shock to viewers unfamiliar with the source material.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Kelly Evans, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
And Morvan was caught off guard when Ryan Murphy featured Milli Vanilli prominently in his 2024 series on the Menendez brothers, a move introducing the group to new generations unfamiliar with the story.
—Christine Terrisse, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
The post won’t be unfamiliar territory for Warsh, 55, who formerly served on the Fed’s Board of Governors from 2006 to 2011.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
True to the video game, the camera never leaves the Iron Lung (a mini-sub with a dark past), and that choice may come as a shock to viewers unfamiliar with the source material.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfamiliar
Adjective
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Nonetheless, Sasaki and Murakami don’t qualify for the strangest request from a new signing in MLB.—
Jordy Fee-Platt,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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As a listening experience, African Skies is a mix of the familiar and the strange.—
Mark Richardson,
Pitchfork,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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See video … LISTEN Tune in for a breakdown of new polling showing voters uneasy with aggressive ICE tactics and that the White House is not focused enough on inflation and affordability.—
,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Smith’s novel digital video fluorescence microscope was designed to take movies of neuronal activity using fluorescent light.—
Ingrid Wickelgren,
Quanta Magazine,
30 Jan. 2026
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The report appears to adopt the precautionary principle, insisting regulators protect against any potential risks before the public can access novel therapies.—
Amy Caruso Brown,
STAT,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The brothers now couch surf between family members’ homes and Airbnbs, intent on documenting what some describe as the unprecedented aggressiveness of Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis.—
Sophia Peyser,
CNN Money,
2 Feb. 2026
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But between them is a teenage girl living in unprecedented times—that is, London in 2020.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But his new-Dior vibe this year felt fresh and unexpectedly cool—a more casual approach to awards season dressing, though still refined.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
2 Feb. 2026
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Renowned for its chocolate, fresh Alpine air, and stunning natural beauty, Switzerland simply does things well—but at a cost.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Oh-My-God particle first interacted with an atomic nucleus in the upper atmosphere, producing a series of daughter particles that each maintain a fraction of the original particle’s momentum, which then collide with greater and greater numbers of particles, and so on.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Jan. 2026
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The show, clearly meant to be an appealing first exposure for K-pop outsiders, selects Top 40 hits from across the decades and pairs the original artists up with Korean idols, who transform them in ways meant to resemble the K-pop formula.—
Sheldon Pearce,
NPR,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Seymour said the fundraiser’s original goal has already been consumed by travel costs alone and warned that future expenses — including therapy — remain unknown.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfamiliar. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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