as in imitative
using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model
critics faulted the novel for having a painfully unoriginal plot
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Recent Examples of unoriginal
These are deeply unoriginal ideas about the future.
—
Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2025
So far, what AI produces in the way of literature is purely derivative and thus noticeably unoriginal.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 28 May 2025
The Bond films became nihilistic, and the post-Snyder DC films are notable only for being poor, unoriginal corporate gestures — counterfeit versions of Snyder’s resonant mythologizing.
—Armond White, National Review, 23 May 2025
The very best ones deviate from dupe culture, which often features unoriginal designs made with lower-quality materials.
—Irene Richardson, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for unoriginal
Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2025
So far, what AI produces in the way of literature is purely derivative and thus noticeably unoriginal.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 28 May 2025
The Bond films became nihilistic, and the post-Snyder DC films are notable only for being poor, unoriginal corporate gestures — counterfeit versions of Snyder’s resonant mythologizing.
—Armond White, National Review, 23 May 2025
The very best ones deviate from dupe culture, which often features unoriginal designs made with lower-quality materials.
—Irene Richardson, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for unoriginal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unoriginal
Adjective
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Third-party imitative learning from an immigrating parrot’s flockmates may facilitate overall group integration and social bonding and may even give rise to cultural conventions of coordinated movements or gestures.—
GrrlScientist,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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In addition to thinking about how to escape John’s imitative poetry and scholasticism, Constantine had to consider his own future.—
Gregory Jusdanis,
Literary Hub,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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While there is some variation, usually dependent on the designer, overall the look can feel a bit formulaic.—
Brett F. Braley-Palko,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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All this suggests that A.I. culture could submerge human originality in a sea of unmotivated, formulaic art.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unoriginal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unoriginal. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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