ANOMALOUS Synonyms: 96 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'anomalous' distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words irregular and unnatural are common synonyms of anomalous . While all three words mean "not conforming to rule, law, or custom," anomalous implies not conforming to what might be expected because of the class or type to which it belongs or the laws that govern its existence. // her drive made her an anomalous figure in a sleepy organization

Q: Where would 'irregular' be a reasonable alternative to 'anomalous'?

Although the words irregular and anomalous have much in common, irregular implies not conforming to a law or regulation imposed for the sake of uniformity in method, practice, or conduct. // concerned about his irregular behavior

Q: When is it sensible to use 'unnatural' instead of 'anomalous'?

The meanings of unnatural and anomalous largely overlap; however, unnatural suggests what is contrary to nature or to principles or standards felt to be essential to the well-being of civilized society. // prisoners treated with unnatural cruelty

anomalous

adjective

ə-ˈnä-mə-ləs

Definition of anomalous

as in unusual

being out of the ordinary that was an anomalous year for the housing industry, so the number of starts is anything but typical

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in abnormal

departing from some accepted standard of what is normal an anomalous burst of anger from this usually easygoing person

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word anomalous distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words irregular and unnatural are common synonyms of anomalous. While all three words mean "not conforming to rule, law, or custom," anomalous implies not conforming to what might be expected because of the class or type to which it belongs or the laws that govern its existence.

her drive made her an anomalous figure in a sleepy organization

Where would irregular be a reasonable alternative to anomalous?

Although the words irregular and anomalous have much in common, irregular implies not conforming to a law or regulation imposed for the sake of uniformity in method, practice, or conduct.

concerned about his irregular behavior

When is it sensible to use unnatural instead of anomalous?

The meanings of unnatural and anomalous largely overlap; however, unnatural suggests what is contrary to nature or to principles or standards felt to be essential to the well-being of civilized society.

prisoners treated with unnatural cruelty

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 anomalous Astounding and anomalous images flare up on our screens in paradoxical answer to cybernetic metrics of probability. — Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026 There are also weird anomalous results, like the RTX 5050 holding a commanding lead in Doom Dark Ages at Medium 1080p, but the RX 9050 being just as capable at 1440p. — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 31 July 2026 An hour before the show, Simonyan, who lives in Siberia, wandered into Cook’s office atop Millennium Gate Museum—the anomalous arch’s name. — Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 Authorities can reconstruct routes, identify anomalous behavior, and compare activities against permit conditions long after the event itself has occurred. — IEEE Spectrum, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for anomalous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for anomalous

Adjective

Its unusual features give it a curious, almost surprised expression, helping people connect with a species rarely seen outside its coral home.

— Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Researchers used Jefferson Lab’s Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) to produce the experiment’s unusual probe.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of unusual

Adjective

In another trial, researchers with the UC San Diego School of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University are also analyzing blood from 84 adult participants with HIV and abnormal levels of body fat buildup.

— Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
The vaccine targets abnormal proteins called neoantigens that appear on the surface of cancer cells.

— Aria Bendix, NBC news, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of abnormal

Adjective

Building new housing on two islands in San Francisco, one of the hottest housing markets, involved an extraordinary saga.

— Julie Z. Weil, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2026
As his abilities give him access to increasingly sophisticated criminal schemes and extraordinary wealth, he is drawn into a world of luxury, excess and organized cybercrime.

— Ed Meza, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of extraordinary

Adjective

The Jackson County District Attorney's office has previously said convening a grand jury does not mean there is any criminality and is standard procedure for most unnatural or suspicious deaths in the county.

— Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Decoteau was there, sipping his beautifully unnatural lemonade.

— Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of unnatural

Adjective

This commitment to investing in people, listening intently, and acting on feedback drives continuous improvement, proving that exceptional service is a deliberate outcome of strong leadership and a responsive culture.

— Shep Hyken, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Food and drink Zori’s 32-year-old chef, Siniša Jevrosimov, is an exceptional talent.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of exceptional

Adjective

The exterior features unique blue accents and matching blue high-performance brake calipers.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
Known for unique design flair, such as the Stellar TV's concrete back mounts, Loewe seeks to establish itself in top luxury destinations, building a global lifestyle ecosystem focused on craftsmanship and innovation.

— John Archer, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of unique

Adjective

The rare albino peacock that was injured during the incident in Pasadena.

— Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
In a Texas hospital this week, doctors performed a complex, high-risk, open-heart surgery on a 6-day-old boy born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare congenital condition that rendered part of his heart underdeveloped.

— Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of rare

Adjective

The continent is being hammered by a number of odd energy policy decisions, from closing zero-emission nuclear plants or shutting down natural gas facilities.

— Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026
The odd part is that all of this spending, hiring and firing is happening around a target every major AI lab defines differently.

— Jemma Green, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of odd

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anomalies

anomalous

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“Anomalous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anomalous. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of anomalous

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