1
as in unconventional
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices
a time when people with unorthodox religious views were banished from the colony
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2
as in modern
not bound by traditional ways or beliefs
raised by an aunt, whose unorthodox parenting practices made for a strange but fun childhood
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3
as in informal
not rigidly following established form, custom, or rules
an unorthodox but effective procedure for opening a wine bottle without a corkscrew
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Recent Examples of unorthodox
So when opening day arrived, even Kellner, the uber-intense, unorthodox budding star, had to allow himself a moment to take it all in.
—
Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
As a result, some agencies, such as the Department of Energy, began applying unorthodox practices, including closing out pending requests.
—David Cuillier, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
My story would also require a love interest, however unorthodox.
—Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
Against a backdrop of worries that more tricky issues requiring creative and unorthodox solutions are likely coming down the road, Laporta was seen as the best bet to defend the club’s interests and independence over the next five years.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unorthodox
Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
As a result, some agencies, such as the Department of Energy, began applying unorthodox practices, including closing out pending requests.
—David Cuillier, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
My story would also require a love interest, however unorthodox.
—Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
Against a backdrop of worries that more tricky issues requiring creative and unorthodox solutions are likely coming down the road, Laporta was seen as the best bet to defend the club’s interests and independence over the next five years.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unorthodox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unorthodox
Adjective
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The situation was finally resolved when a wildlife response team used an unconventional method, crawling under the house and firing paintballs filled with vegetable oil to drive the bear out.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
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This unconventional but sweet design was the perfect reference to Margaret’s free spirit.—
Jessica Gibbs,
InStyle,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But this modern approach is teamed with ancient medicinal practices and a holistic, full-circle philosophy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Those are just some of the ways in which the three elements have become critical for modern manufacturing, including for defense.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Food and drink Head to Cugino for breakfast or an informal lunch.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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Through performances, activations, and informal exchanges, visitors are invited to share personal stories that become part of an evolving audio component.—
Olga Garcia-Mayoral,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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There's the dissident intelligence officer Helmuth von Moltke, a conservative who seeks to work from inside against the Nazis (he gets hanged for his trouble).—
John Powers,
NPR,
2 Apr. 2026
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Diplomacy with the West In 2003, after a dissident group exposed Iran’s clandestine nuclear activities in 2002 and Iran began facing intensifying international pressure, Araghchi was appointed director of the first department of western Europe in Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Gorsuch’s opinion drew support from liberal Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.—
Lindsay Whitehurst,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
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Even those who advocated for conservative positions were compelled to make their case in language amenable to the liberal sensibility.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The show was always an out-there concept, even for HBO.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
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The planet is the setting for an unlikely mix of sci-fi, magic, and fantasy, populated by a bizarre assortment of characters whose origins were usually determined by the out-there whims of toymakers — there really is no other way to explain Snout Spout.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Meanwhile, the oil industry blames California's progressive policies for driving them out.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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Sunshine died March 15 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, after a battle with progressive supranuclear palsy, a family spokesperson announced.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The proliferation of biennials in the ’90s made the art world multicentric and global, a radical shift compared with previous decades.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
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The new group is less radical and much more reasonable.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unorthodox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unorthodox. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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