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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

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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 Shailene Woodley and Thomas Doherty are among the new cast members featured in a first look at season 2. Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) is off to parts unknown, having left for the outside world at the end of season 1 of Hulu's Paradise. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 22 July 2025 Defendants in the lawsuit are the Will County sheriff’s office, a U.S. Secret Service agent and unknown members of the Will County sheriff’s office and U.S. Secret Service. Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 22 July 2025 According to the Amber Alert Tuesday, the boy was forcibly taken from his mother by an unknown suspect on Friday. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2025 The Red Clay Strays Just two years ago, Alabama country-rock band Red Clay Strays were somewhat unknown and way down on the UTBS lineup, playing an early set and small late-night showcase to a few hundred folks. Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for unknown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unknown
Adjective
  • People unfamiliar with certain disasters — such as out-of-town visitors caught in the Hill Country flooding — may be at higher risk during emergencies.
    Bayliss Wagner, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
  • The short clip features Maya locking herself in the bathroom of an unfamiliar home when all of a sudden an axe comes flying through the closed door.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 24 July 2025
Adjective
  • But in reality, many of the most successful companies didn’t start with novel inventions.
    Abdo Riani, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Her novel Tongue was published in English by Bloomsbury in 2009.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • In order to produce so many shows, Marvel had to mine the depths of its archives which led to productions based on obscure characters that many fans didn't care about.
    Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • Provider tax The bill includes a rather obscure change that could cost the state millions of dollars and, in turn, a reduction in services.
    Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2025
Adjective
  • His disjointed, dissonant rhythms were his attempt to accompany the chaos — like providing a real-time soundtrack to a strange silent movie.
    David Kushner, Rolling Stone, 20 July 2025
  • That same day, the AI chatbot Grok, which is controlled by Musk’s xAI, kicked off its own strange Epstein tirade.
    John Hyatt, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
Adjective
  • Two more victims whose heatstroke went unrecognized were found dead in their beds on the stifling wards.
    Cory Franklin, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2025
  • The Strategic Case For Oral Biohacking For executives, entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals and health-conscious individuals, oral biohacking isn't an unrecognized niche but a strategic lever for enhancing performance, productivity, well-being, and longevity.
    Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie turned the wizardly backstory into an epic adventure, opening a gateway for young unbeknownst fantasy fans everywhere while also delivering a classically wholesome story about the importance of family and a parent's unconditional love.
    EW Staff, EW.com, 1 July 2024
  • For a surprise at the end, unbeknownst even to King, Winfrey arranged a path lined with sparklers, framing the couple in a golden glow against the night sky.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 6 June 2024
Adjective
  • His administration's unprecedented deal with Columbia University in New York City has put many of its Ivy League peers in a tough spot.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 26 July 2025
  • This level of support by the federal government for a mining company is unprecedented, said Gracelin Baskaran, an expert on critical minerals at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
    Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 26 July 2025
Adjective
  • The sports arena floated as a solution to save the State Fair site never materialized, but new buildings did begin to replace the old on the fairgrounds, including a 1,000-seat amphitheater in 1974 and a new Coliseum in 1976.
    Chris Foran, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
  • The 151st Kentucky Derby set new records for all-sources handle and viewership.
    Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 24 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Unknown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unknown. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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