unknown

adjective

ˌən-ˈnōn How to pronounce unknown (audio)
Definition of unknownnext
1
as in unfamiliar
happening or existing without one's knowledge unknown to me was the fact that while I was out, my family was hurriedly preparing a surprise birthday party

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in novel
not known or experienced before becoming a father brought unknown joy to his life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obscure
not widely known looking for a relatively unknown singer to record the song

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unknown The other car’s driver was transported to a local hospital with unknown injuries. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026 Unfortunately, it's being held up by Senator Tom Cotton, of Arkansas, for reasons unknown. — Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026 Police said a witness had observed an unknown male offender running on foot moments after gunfire was heard Thursday night. — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 3 Oct. 2026 For unknown reasons, cases of shingles have been gradually rising, even among younger adults, research has shown. — Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unknown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unknown
  1. unfamiliar
  2. novel
  3. obscure
  4. unbeknownst
  5. strange
  6. unrecognized
  7. unprecedented
  8. new
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, many investors of all sorts who are unfamiliar with crypto find buying HYPE tokens can be cumbersome, typically requiring them to create a crypto wallet and connect it to a decentralized exchange.
    — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • As levels drop, the body becomes less efficient at cooling itself, triggering more frequent hot flashes and sweating that mixes with skin bacteria to produce stronger or unfamiliar smells.
    — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of unfamiliar
Adjective
  • When Anderson was first diagnosed in the late 1990s, the hepatitis C virus was still relatively novel.
    — Philip A. Chan, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Both clubs sit on hills surrounded by pine trees, offering a cool escape from the city and a novel way to immerse yourself in something that has become a fixture of 2026 Medellín.
    — Nikkita Nair, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of novel
Adjective
  • Other researchers were hunting the agents online and finding traces of them on obscure message boards.
    — Gerrit De Vynck, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Akhtar is at his best here because the sensations remain vivid even when their significance is obscure.
    — Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of obscure
Adjective
  • However, unbeknownst to the girls, the men left the original villa setting and snuck away to Casa Amor, a second filming location where six bombshells in sexy costumes were waiting to steal guys' hearts.
    — Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 22 June 2026
  • That same night, unbeknownst to friends and family, the couple spontaneously wed in a courthouse wedding.
    — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026
Definition of unbeknownst
Adjective
  • Serena tells him his former boss Elliott Wyatt recommended him highly, which is strange given his former reticence.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Neither does the strange quiet when the trip home begins with one fewer passenger.
    — Robert Duffer, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of strange
Adjective
  • Among them, Mimi Sheraton, who donned wigs and other disguises to go unrecognized when reviewing.
    — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The rest likely reflect a mix of unrecognized Covid deaths and indirect effects of the pandemic.
    — Jess Steier, STAT, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of unrecognized
Adjective
  • The hotel’s unprecedented vantage point envelops guests in panoramic views of Melbourne and the ocean lapping at Port Phillip Bay.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Steve Parker, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, said the company expects to deliver seekers at unprecedented production levels.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of unprecedented
Adjective
  • There are currently around 1,000 new Pip claims submitted every day in the UK; about 34% are successful.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 4 Oct. 2026
  • On Monday, the first day of the Supreme Court's new term, the justices will hear the Boulder case that could decide the fate of others like it.
    — LINDSAY WHITEHURST, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of new

Browse Nearby Words

unknowledgeable
unknown
unlace
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unknown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unknown. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of inscrutable

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All