nonmainstream

adjective

Definition of nonmainstreamnext
as in idiosyncratic

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 nonmainstream And when the filibuster threatened to block Gorsuch—that is, when it was poised to accomplish its alleged purpose of thwarting nonmainstream nominees—Republicans killed it. — Mark Joseph Stern, Slate Magazine, 7 Apr. 2017 Assaults against Western targets, churches and nonmainstream Islamic groups have preoccupied Indonesian security agencies for the past 15 years. — Thomas Fuller, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonmainstream
  1. idiosyncratic
  2. out-there
  3. nonconformist
  4. unorthodox
  5. unconventional
  6. outrageous
  7. confounding
Adjective
  • For Marni's summer collections, Consuelo brought her idiosyncratic sensibility to looks that mixed ethnic and vintage elements with intriguing cutting.
    — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The Fed is concerned about the underlying inflationary pressures, not every idiosyncratic change in the price level.
    — Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of idiosyncratic
Adjective
  • Guitarist Adam Turay and trumpeter Ryan Easter both come from the jazzier side of the tracks, the former playing with Afro-R&B group the Narcotix, the latter with more out-there units like WRENS.
    — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026
  • The classic straight-leg silhouette is relaxed throughout, providing ease and movement to the style, balancing the more out-there design details.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 28 June 2026
Definition of out-there
Adjective
  • This dogmatic approach to revolutionary citizenship led to the horrible treatment of any perceived as nonconformist, such as LGBTQ people, hippies or punks.
    — Juan Carlos Albarran, The Conversation, 13 July 2026
  • In the end, Levine’s profile of the nonconformist genius reveals just how superb a dancer Cole was.
    — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Definition of nonconformist
Adjective
  • The Celtics will play in the opening game of the 2026-27 NBA season — and that game will feature a highly unorthodox start time.
    — Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The crispy beef tacos are a perennial craving, but other unorthodox tacos tempt, too.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of unorthodox
Adjective
  • Despite the unconventional nature, both Ray J and Brown likely walked away with significant earnings from the Zeus Promotions event.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • After using unconventional tactics, such as water-dropping helicopters, LAFD crews knocked down the fire and returned the property to Lineage for cleanup.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of unconventional
Adjective
  • John Oliver’s soap opera summer continues this week, with the Last Week Tonight host donning a truly outrageous wig for a three-episode stint on Days of Our Lives.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Of course, Gems’ multiple drafts were only the beginning; once the script was ready to green-light, Burton’s design and effects teams had to figure out how to actually bring Gems’ outrageous flights of imagination to life.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of outrageous
Adjective
  • Grief is one of the most confounding aspects of the human experience.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
  • In 2021, one year into D’Amaro’s tenure and following COVID shutdowns, Disney did away with FastPass and introduced a confounding and very costly series of pay-to-skip passes, which require timing advanced booking of limited slots in these formerly free-to-enter shorter lines.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of confounding

Browse Nearby Words

nonlogical
nonmainstream
nonmalleable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nonmainstream.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonmainstream. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of divulge

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
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
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All