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.
Synonyms
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
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 9 July 2024
Being effective may well require a prospective tutor to get a refresher on how to add fractions with unlike denominators or multiply decimals, but a bachelor’s degree, while nice, shouldn’t be a prerequisite.
—Michael Thomas Duffy, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2024
Matt Thompson, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024
But Benitez persists, explaining that Lawrence has the virtues necessary to lead the faithful, unlike some of their fellow cardinals who seem to want the job for its power and status.
—Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
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, as Glucksmann pointed out, nothing could be more normal: fishing for votes for particular projects and forming improbable coalitions among unlike kinds are how parliamentary politics work in Spain, Germany, and the European Parliament itself.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 9 July 2024
Being effective may well require a prospective tutor to get a refresher on how to add fractions with unlike denominators or multiply decimals, but a bachelor’s degree, while nice, shouldn’t be a prerequisite.
—Michael Thomas Duffy, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2024
Preposition
No one in Ammon’s Jeep got capped, but then, unlike good ol’ Finicum, Ammon’s driver was one of the third or more of the occupiers secretly playing for the other team.
—Matt Thompson, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024
But Benitez persists, explaining that Lawrence has the virtues necessary to lead the faithful, unlike some of their fellow cardinals who seem to want the job for its power and status.
—Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unlike
Dictionary Entries Near unlike
Cite this Entry
“Unlike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unlike. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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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