abnormal
1 of 2adjective
ab·nor·mal (ˌ)ab-ˈnȯr-məl 
əb-
: deviating from the normal or average
a person with abnormal [=exceptional] strength
abnormal powers of concentration
often : unusual in an unwelcome or problematic way
abnormal behavior
abnormal test results
abnormally
(ˌ)ab-ˈnȯr-mə-lē
adverb əb-
behaving abnormally
abnormal
2 of 2noun
: an abnormal person
Synonyms
Adjective
- aberrant
- aberrated
- anomalous
- atypical
- especial
- exceeding
- exceptional
- extraordinaire
- extraordinary
- freak
- odd
- peculiar
- phenomenal
- preternatural
- rare
- singular
- uncommon
- uncustomary
- unique
- unusual
- unwonted
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective The results of the blood test were abnormal. a completely abnormal school day, because half of the kids were out sick
Recent Examples on the Web
Gary Washburn, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Aug. 2022 There is, though, a hint to the immune system that the cancer cells are abnormal. Gina Kolata, New York Times, 1 June 2022 What's also abnormal was what was left behind inside Alexis's car: her cell phone, her purse and a bag of clothes in the trunk. Dateline Nbc, NBC News, 17 Aug. 2022 Toki's bloodwork was abnormal and the AV believed these behaviors could result in over-exertion and Toki becoming winded, which was actually observed by both the senior trainer and the AV. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 15 Aug. 2022 Carle Stenmark, a general partner at VMG Partners, one of Daily Harvest’s biggest investors, says that his private equity firm invests in a lot of food businesses and that recalls are not abnormal. Beth Kowitt, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2022 And to understand why, when the protein was abnormal, kidney tumors developed. Mark Murphy, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 To diagnose an ectopic pregnancy, physicians will look at trends of beta HCG levels—a hormone present in a pregnant person’s blood or urine that, when charted over time, can help determine whether a pregnancy is abnormal. Wired, 7 Aug. 2022 In August 1886, Victorian London is rocked by a supernatural event that gives certain people—mostly women—abnormal abilities. Ars Staff, Ars Technica, 31 Dec. 2021 Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Jan. 2021 Several in the Santiam district spoke to The Oregonian/OregonLive about what’s become a catchphrase of the double bind -- the new abnormal. oregonlive, 20 Oct. 2020 The abnormal of 2020 continued through this game as lightning delayed the game by more than half an hour late in the third quarter, and with 3:52 remaining in the game, half of the stadium's lighting went out. al, 22 Aug. 2020 Welcome to the Charles Schwab Challenge and the PGA Tour’s new abnormal. Dallas News, 12 June 2020 The emergence of a new abnormal will depend on several factors. Eric M. Stone, STAT, 5 June 2020 See More
Adjective
James was not abnormal, but Holmgren got the worst of the contact. Gary Washburn, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Aug. 2022 There is, though, a hint to the immune system that the cancer cells are abnormal. Gina Kolata, New York Times, 1 June 2022 What's also abnormal was what was left behind inside Alexis's car: her cell phone, her purse and a bag of clothes in the trunk. Dateline Nbc, NBC News, 17 Aug. 2022 Toki's bloodwork was abnormal and the AV believed these behaviors could result in over-exertion and Toki becoming winded, which was actually observed by both the senior trainer and the AV. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 15 Aug. 2022 Carle Stenmark, a general partner at VMG Partners, one of Daily Harvest’s biggest investors, says that his private equity firm invests in a lot of food businesses and that recalls are not abnormal. Beth Kowitt, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2022 And to understand why, when the protein was abnormal, kidney tumors developed. Mark Murphy, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 To diagnose an ectopic pregnancy, physicians will look at trends of beta HCG levels—a hormone present in a pregnant person’s blood or urine that, when charted over time, can help determine whether a pregnancy is abnormal. Wired, 7 Aug. 2022 In August 1886, Victorian London is rocked by a supernatural event that gives certain people—mostly women—abnormal abilities. Ars Staff, Ars Technica, 31 Dec. 2021 Noun
Primed for speed and for the social distancing of the new abnormal, Toro Coffee does its thing exclusively at the drive-thru, with a window on each side of this white box building near Rackspace on the Northeast Side. Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Jan. 2021 Several in the Santiam district spoke to The Oregonian/OregonLive about what’s become a catchphrase of the double bind -- the new abnormal. oregonlive, 20 Oct. 2020 The abnormal of 2020 continued through this game as lightning delayed the game by more than half an hour late in the third quarter, and with 3:52 remaining in the game, half of the stadium's lighting went out. al, 22 Aug. 2020 Welcome to the Charles Schwab Challenge and the PGA Tour’s new abnormal. Dallas News, 12 June 2020 The emergence of a new abnormal will depend on several factors. Eric M. Stone, STAT, 5 June 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
New Latin abnormis "deviating from the average" (going back to Medieval Latin, "not conforming to rule," going back to Latin, "belonging to no school of philosophy," from ab- ab- + norma "carpenter's rule, pattern") + -al entry 1 — more at norm
Noun
noun derivative of abnormal entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
1817, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1857, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing abnormal
Kids Definition
abnormal
adjective
ab·nor·mal ab-ˈnȯr-məl
: differing from the normal usually in a noticeable way
an abnormal growth
Medical Definition
abnormal 1 of 2
adjective
ab·nor·mal (ˈ)ab-ˈnȯr-məl
: deviating from the normal, average, or expected
abnormal development
results of the Pap smear were abnormal
abnormal actions departing from accepted standards of social behavior
abnormal
2 of 2noun
: an abnormal person
abnormal
adjective
1
as in unusual
being out of the ordinary a completely abnormal school day, because half of the kids were out sick Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- unusual
- extraordinary
- exceptional
- unique
- uncommon
- rare
- odd
- outstanding
- anomalous
- aberrant
- atypical
- remarkable
- exceeding
- singular
- incredible
- freak
- phenomenal
- peculiar
- noticeable
- aberrated
- uncustomary
- unwonted
- striking
- especial
- deviant
- eccentric
- conspicuous
- bizarre
- strange
- prominent
- preternatural
- salient
- notable
- extraordinaire
- weird
- freakish
- incomprehensible
- inconceivable
- outlandish
- oddball
- unimaginable
- unthinkable
- quaint
- monstrous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- normal
- ordinary
- common
- typical
- usual
- customary
- unexceptional
- unextraordinary
- frequent
- familiar
- everyday
2
as in unnatural
departing from some accepted standard of what is normal noticed his abnormal breathing and took him to the emergency room Synonyms & Similar Words
- unnatural
- irregular
- unusual
- aberrant
- anomalous
- atypical
- unusual
- deviant
- uncommon
- aberrational
- uncommon
- extraordinary
- odd
- untypical
- deviate
- eccentric
- weird
- extraordinary
- strange
- bizarre
- odd
- unconventional
- peculiar
- devious
- funny
- strange
- rare
- remarkable
- unrepresentative
- curious
- freakish
- peculiar
- idiosyncratic
- kinky
- unorthodox
- quirky
- screwy
- rare
- outlandish
- unwonted
- uncustomary
- wacky
- nonconformist
- whacky
- preternatural
- outré
- wild
- quaint
- queer
- unwonted
- uncustomary
- queerish
- preternatural
- way-out
- out-of-the-way
- far-out
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- normal
- typical
- regular
- natural
- standard
- ordinary
- common
- familiar
- routine
- unremarkable
- everyday
- commonplace
- unexceptional
- usual
- characteristic
- customary
- average
- run-of-the-mill
- run-of-the-mine
- representative
- workaday
- wonted
- archetypal
- run-of-mine
- archetypical