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unusual

Something unusual is uncommon. It's odd, weird, or out of the ordinary in some way.

Unusual is the opposite of usual, thanks to the prefix un, meaning "not." Unusual things are noteworthy: you don't see them every day. A dog chasing a squirrel is usual. A squirrel chasing a dog would be unusual. Unusual can mean strange and bizarre, or just things that are rare. If someone is always absent, showing up would be unusual. Most surprising things are unusual.

DEFINITIONS OF: unusual

adj not usual or common or ordinary

“a scene of unusual beauty”

“a man of unusual ability”

“cruel and unusual punishment”

“an unusual meteorite”

Synonyms: uncommon
not common or ordinarily encountered; unusually great in amount or remarkable in character or kind; different
differing from all others; not ordinary; extraordinary
(of an official) serving an unusual or special function in addition to those of the regular officials; odd
not easily explained; out-of-the-way
out of the ordinary; peculiar
markedly different from the usual; unaccustomed
not customary or usual; unique
highly unusual or rare but not the single instance

Antonyms:: usual
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure; common
having no special distinction or quality; widely known or commonly encountered; average or ordinary or usual; accustomed, customary, habitual, wonted
commonly used or practiced; usual; chronic, inveterate
habitual; regular
in accord with regular practice or procedure; show more antonyms...

adj being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

Synonyms:: strange

: antic, fantastic, fantastical, grotesque
ludicrously odd; crazy
bizarre or fantastic; curious, funny, odd, peculiar, queer, rum, rummy, singular
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected; eerie, eery
inspiring a feeling of fear; strange and frightening; exotic
strikingly strange or unusual; freaky
strange and somewhat frightening; gothic
characterized by gloom and mystery and the grotesque; oddish
somewhat strange; other
very unusual; different in character or quality from the normal or expected; quaint
strange in an interesting or pleasing way; quaint
very strange or unusual; odd or even incongruous in character or appearance; weird
strikingly odd or unusual

Antonyms:: familiar
within normal everyday experience; common and ordinary; not strange; common, usual
commonly encountered; common or garden
the usual or familiar type; everyday
commonplace and ordinary; show more antonyms...

adj not commonly encountered

“two-career families are no longer unusual”

Synonyms: uncommon
not common or ordinarily encountered; unusually great in amount or remarkable in character or kind

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