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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in ignorance
the state of being unaware or uninformed
some intense studying rapidly remedied my unfamiliarity with the subject in time for the exam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unfamiliar
Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
For those unfamiliar with the games, Liberty Prime is considered the most powerful of all the combat robots and plays a key role in both Fallout 3 and Fallout 4.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Maheu says that, of course, some people have also had broader issues with their decision to coparent as a group — some of it borne from unfamiliarity.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Adjective
Johnson also urged drivers to keep in mind that many visitors may be unfamiliar with local roads, which could slow traffic even further.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
For those unfamiliar with the games, Liberty Prime is considered the most powerful of all the combat robots and plays a key role in both Fallout 3 and Fallout 4.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
To anticipate improving upon an already-staggering performance metric by nearly 20% is to acknowledge an unfamiliarity with how math works.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Maheu says that, of course, some people have also had broader issues with their decision to coparent as a group — some of it borne from unfamiliarity.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfamiliar
Adjective
-
In a strange twist, the Max app was developed by VKontakte (VK), which Durov co-founded before selling his shares and leaving Russia in 2014, after Durov said the Kremlin had asked the site to hand over Ukrainian users’ data.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Paul, the polarizing boxer, has been no stranger to showing emotion.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Inversely, having been friends with Epstein before his conviction is no proof of ignorance.—
Gilad Edelman,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2026
-
All the knowledge—or ignorance—that a viewer brings to a movie, whatever knowledge a viewer gains about the making and the makers, is an inextricable part of the viewing experience.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This work offers a new platform for designing efficient photo-electrocatalysts and advancing next-generation solar–electrochemical energy conversion systems.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase faced additional allegations of rigging pitches to benefit bettors in a new document filed on Thursday.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This is clearly not possible considering the importance of safety concerns associated with nuclear reactors, particularly new and novel designs.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
This cream wide-leg pair features dark green splatters that resemble an abstract leopard print, making a classic navy blazer and cream sweater suddenly appear novel.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The events’ contrasts are emblematic of the shift on immigration — in rhetoric and, to some degree, in policy — among Colorado’s majority Democrats after a year of unprecedented enforcement.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Andersonville was not created until February 1864, but in the months that followed, as many as 90 trainloads, containing 75 men to a boxcar, soon established its unprecedented scale.—
Drew Gilpin Faust,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In 2018, a series of Miami Herald stories about the plea deal prompted New York federal prosecutors to take a fresh look at the accusations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Shock Treatment Next week will also bring a fresh set of numbers from some of the biggest players in the European healthcare space, namely pharma giant AstraZeneca and Philips.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
While neighboring vineyards resorted to grafting their vines onto pest-resistant American roots, DRC used various intensive strategies to keep its original European vines intact, at least until the 1940s.—
Pin Yen Tan 9 min ago,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
-
In 2017, McRae went back to her YouTube roots and uploaded a video of herself singing an original ballad.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The plane crashed into mountainous terrain in unknown circumstances, according to preliminary information, the National Transportation Safety Board said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Set on the eve of the German invasion of Belgium and the Netherlands, the drama explores the situation for Belgian Jews, torn between staying in their homeland amid or fleeing for an unknown destiny, through the prism of a love story and the microcosm of the broadcast radio world.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfamiliar. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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