unused

adjective

ˌən-ˈyüzd How to pronounce unused (audio)
Definition of unusednext
1
as in unadjusted
not having acquired a habit or tolerance the runner's performance suffered because he was unused to running at such high elevations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in new
recently made and never used before preferred to start with unused pencils

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment is there an unused cubicle that the temp could work out of?

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 unused The through-line is the removal of items from the countertop and their relocation to otherwise unused vertical or hidden space. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026 There are portions of the original Steam Deck’s chip that went entirely unused. — Sean Hollister, The Verge, 1 Oct. 2026 In schools, lead can come from deteriorating paint or from old plumbing, where water that sits unused in pipes can pick up lead. — Rebecca Smullin Dawson, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026 That's because Saudi Arabia and other Gulf producers quickly found alternative routes and reached for unused pipeline capacity. — ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unused
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unused
  1. unadjusted
  2. new
  3. dormant
  4. unadapted
  5. off
  6. unaccustomed
  7. vacant
  8. idle
Adjective
  • The company said its preliminary sales grew just 1% in the past quarter, and its unadjusted earnings per share fell 2% – both below the company’s forecasts.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • Failing to report a stock sale, using an unadjusted cost basis from Form 1099-B, double-reporting equity income, or overlooking AMT issues with incentive stock options can lead to IRS notices or unnecessary overpayment of tax.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of unadjusted
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
Adjective
  • Brighouse’s brother died suddenly, and the footage sat dormant for many years.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Instead, Dak Prescott tends to lead the way, but their running game isn’t exactly dormant.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of dormant
Adjective
  • With more than 1,000 chapters still unadapted, the Straw Hats’ voyage could span many more seasons if the show maintains its audience and Netflix continues greenlighting new installments.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026
  • The works of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson had remained unadapted to feature film until Denzel Washington took on the challenge of bringing Fences to the big screen.
    — Kevin Jacobsen and Sammi Burke, EW.com, 17 Nov. 2023
Definition of unadapted
Adjective
  • Mix these finds into your work wardrobe or your off-duty ensembles—they’re versatile enough to do it all, and the festive palette is worth drooling over.
    — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Caminero is one of those players who, even amid a 162-game season, spends his off days watching baseball.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of off
Adjective
  • Parker said the piranha wouldn't have survived in Pennsylvania waters for very long, out of its natural habitat, and likely unaccustomed to the survival skills needed for the wild after living as a pet.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Disaster can strike in regions unaccustomed to their fury, as North Carolinians in the western end of the state painfully learned in 2024 as Hurricane Helene deluged the region.
    — Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of unaccustomed
Adjective
  • To the west was mostly more vacant land stretching to the river.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
  • However, in this case, the two Democratic seats in the minority are currently vacant, and one Republican seat is about to be vacated.
    — Tzachi Zach, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of vacant
Adjective
  • Treasurers want to reduce idle balances and manage liquidity more efficiently.
    — Pratik Khowala, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • For now, though, the band’s tour bus is sitting idle in the middle of a Planet Fitness parking lot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Shepherd uses the safe space to open up more.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of idle

Browse Nearby Words

unusable
unused
unusual
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unused. Accessed 10 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 Luddite

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
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All