ˌən-kən-ˈven(t)-sh(ə-)nəl
1
as in dissident
deviating from commonly accepted beliefs or practices
the Shakers acquired their name because of their unconventional practice of dancing with shaking movements during worship
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2
as in modern
not bound by traditional ways or beliefs
had unconventional opinions on the raising of children
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3
as in informal
not rigidly following established form, custom, or rules
young, creative people who lead unconventional but fulfilling lifestyles
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unconventional
The unconventional construction has been a fixture in runway collections for several seasons.
—
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 5 Jan. 2026
As for the future, the unconventional steering method appears to be gaining steam thanks to Tesla's innovation.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
In keeping with their tradition of unconventional naming, the couple gave baby boy Domenech the name Ransom McCain.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 5 Jan. 2026
Her parents supported her unconventional path, having built their own successful careers without formal college education despite traditionally valuing it for their daughters.
—Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unconventional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unconventional
Adjective
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After hundreds of thousands of opposition protesters took to the streets in April 2002, Chavez was briefly ousted in a coup by dissident military officers and opposition figures, who installed a new president, businessman Pedro Carmona.—
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The National Liberation Army, or ELN, and FARC dissident groups operate in multiple states along the Venezuela-Colombia border.—
Adjective
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Their relaxed drape feels modern and unfussy, striking the right balance between polish and comfort.—
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According to Makaym Dybenko, the system balances customization with military-standard compatibility, positioning DroneHunter Varta as a flexible counter-drone solution for modern combat environments.—
Adjective
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Double islands have been used to add valuable workspace and storage in open kitchens, as well as to accommodate activities such as informal dining.—
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The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) has scouts in different countries monitoring players who are eligible for them from a young age, but Nigeria’s approach is more informal.—
Adjective
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Board member Renee Paschall cast the lone dissenting vote on the final package.—
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The document runs to more than a hundred and fifty pages, and for each question there are affirmative and dissenting studies, as well as some that indicate mixed results.—
Adjective
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One proposal gaining support at least among progressive members is a payroll tax, loosely modeled after a Massachusetts measure, targeting companies that do not offer employees health insurance.—
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It was later discovered Williams had Lewy body dementia, the second-most common type of progressive dementia after Alzheimer's disease.—
Adjective
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Greene wasn’t in office long before most Democrats and a handful of Republicans voted to bar her from House committees over old social media posts surfaced that included violent rhetoric and out-there conspiracies.—
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That group — which also included voices from prominent genre brands like Vinegar Syndrome, Fangoria, MPI Media, Alter, and more — toasted not just the scariest cinema but the most out-there media of all kinds.—
Adjective
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But Jennings' liberal attitude toward the airing of his opinions, regardless of their content, almost cost him the job.—
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But in years since, the district has grown more liberal.—
Adjective
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The radical republic that replaced it bore little resemblance to the partner of 1778, having descended into chaos, executions, and ideological extremism that threatened neighboring states.—
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Such a gambit could well spell the end of NATO, as Denmark’s leader has warned, or at least its radical transformation, and test European unity, with huge implications for the continent’s security.—
Cite this Entry
“Unconventional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unconventional. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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