unlikeness
noun
: not like: such as
a
: different from
a landscape unlike any other
b
: not characteristic of
it was unlike him to be late
c
: in a different manner from
spoke clearly, unlike the others
: in a manner that is different than : not as
Can unlike be used as a conjunction?: Usage Guide
The use of unlike as a conjunction is less common than conjunctive use of like and, while criticized, is not as frequently cited as an error. The conjunctive unlike almost always introduces a prepositional phrase.
unlike in other areas, the judiciary cannot justify its attempt … as a necessary evil
—
Alexandra M. Walsh, Stanford Law Rev.
Alexandra M. Walsh, Stanford Law Rev.
In spite of criticism, this conjunctive use of unlike is well established in both American and British English.
Examples of unlike in a Sentence
Adjective
a comparison of unlike things
you're trying to compare very unlike things—like those proverbial apples and oranges
Preposition
The plants that grow here are unlike the plants that grow where I live.
She's unlike anyone I've ever met.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 21 July 2025
And then—unlike, say, the stories once told by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth—at least the e-mails published by WikiLeaks were real.
—Keith Gessen, New Yorker, 16 July 2025
Jordan King
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
The crater formed in a large basalt plateau, unlike most other craters located in sediments or metamorphic rocks.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlike
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
But at the moment, unlike, say, when the Heat looked ahead to the formation of the Big Three in the 2010 offseason, this is not a case of a 2026 masterplan.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 21 July 2025
And then—unlike, say, the stories once told by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth—at least the e-mails published by WikiLeaks were real.
—Keith Gessen, New Yorker, 16 July 2025
Preposition
This means that, unlike wealthy countries, which are facing a workforce crisis (not enough working-aged people to support the growing elderly population), nations in sub-Saharan Africa have a growing working-age population.
—Jordan King
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
The crater formed in a large basalt plateau, unlike most other craters located in sediments or metamorphic rocks.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlike
Cite this Entry
“Unlike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unlike. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unlike
1 of 2 adjective
un·like
ˌən-ˈlīk 
ˈən-
1
: marked by differences
people are all unlike
2
: unequal sense 1a
contributed unlike amounts
unlikeness
noun
unlike
2 of 2 preposition1
: different from
feeling completely unlike a hero
2
: not typical of
it was unlike her to be late
3
: in a different manner from
behaving unlike all the other children
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