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
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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
Anton Lucanus
april 3, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
The records, many from eastern North America, suggest the games were fast-paced, often played among unfamiliar groups.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
But there’s also a bit of unfamiliarity, as Peterson said he’s never dealt with cramping that has lingered this long before.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Adjective
The area’s large tourist population contributes a constant volume of unfamiliar drivers to already heavily congested roads, with traffic patterns that shift significantly between peak tourist season and the summer months but never truly slow to manageable levels on the area’s major corridors.
—Anton Lucanus
april 3, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
The records, many from eastern North America, suggest the games were fast-paced, often played among unfamiliar groups.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
Asked about Zhang at a regular briefing of reporters in Beijing, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson cited unfamiliarity with the matter.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
But there’s also a bit of unfamiliarity, as Peterson said he’s never dealt with cramping that has lingered this long before.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfamiliar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfamiliar
Adjective
-
Some 18 months ago, Mack said, the Royals launched a deep dive after Picollo broached the possibility of exploring strange new worlds.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
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But rather than avoiding strange quantum phenomena such as superposition and entanglement, Bennett and Brassard embraced them.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And both reckon with the extent to which historical ignorance and the calculated distortion of the past threaten the foundation on which our country was built.—
Francine Prose,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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That denial of reality — rooted in ignorance and contempt for science — is now official policy, as evidenced by the EPA’s rescinding of its landmark finding that greenhouse gases harm public health.—
James Speyer,
New York Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Even the more politically active class of nonprofits — 501(c)(4) groups, like the relatively new American Hunters and Anglers — can’t make political activity its primary activity.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
3 Apr. 2026
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The Colorado Rockies are rolling out a lineup of new food offerings ahead of Opening Day, featuring everything from oversized hot dogs to inventive twists on classic ballpark staples.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Only a fraction of the human genome is involved in making antibodies, and yet the potential of this section to recombine in novel ways is almost limitless.—
Jerome Groopman,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Netflix picked up the first two seasons of Sullivan’s Crossing two months later, introducing a broader audience to the show based on the best-selling novel series by Robyn Carr.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Over the past year, according to earlier Post reporting, an unprecedented number of Aurora detainees have been granted voluntary departures — essentially deportations without a more punitive court order.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The crew will capture unprecedented views of the moon’s far side, including portions of Orientale Basin never before seen by humans.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
When picked right off the vine, during the sneaky warmth of late spring, a fresh pea can taste ethereal.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
5 Apr. 2026
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With new artistic director Alicia Graf Mack at the helm, the group continues to advance the legacy of African American culture while moving us all forward through fresh artistic heights.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Throughout the property, the original building's bones— beams, tiles, pillars, and window frames—were gently restored to show their age and patina, not conceal it.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
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Judge Barrett, who handed down the original sentence, will likely be the one to do it.—
Chierstin Roth,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But with game preservation increasingly becoming an important aspect in the industry, Defender seems to be a fading memory for older players, as well as an unknown game for younger ones.—
Daryl Baxter,
Space.com,
4 Apr. 2026
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The Mercedes-Benz driver, a 27-year-old man, was taken to a hospital with unknown injuries.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfamiliar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfamiliar. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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