nonconventional
Outside the norm
Nonconventional means not following established norms, methods, or traditions.
It describes approaches, technologies, or behaviors that depart from standard practice: nonconventional warfare, nonconventional energy sources.
The term is more neutral than unconventional, which can carry connotations of deliberate rebellion or eccentricity.
Nonconventional simply indicates deviation from the usual without judgment.
Contrary to accepted practice
- heterodoxContrary to accepted doctrine
- iconoclasticAttacking cherished beliefs
- contrarianChronic majority-opposer
- rebelliousResisting authority or control
dissenting · heretical · subversive · countercultural · anti-establishment · freethinking · independent · maverick
Introducing radical new ideas
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- disruptiveTending to interrupt order
revolutionary · trailblazing · inventive · novel · original · visionary · uncharted · experimental
Innovative cultural pioneers
- experimentalTesting new methods
- abstractCondensed version of text
- surrealismIrrational, dreamlike aesthetic
- dadaismAbsurdist artistic movement
cubism · futurism · expressionism · minimalism · conceptual · installation · performance · neo-expressionism
Unconventional in character
- whimsicalPlayfully fanciful or erratic
- offbeatPleasantly strange or unusual
- zanyAmusingly absurd
- kookyOddball in manner
oddball · peculiar · idiosyncratic · funky · wacky · off-the-wall · left-field · unorthodox
unorthodox
Contrary to accepted practice
- heterodoxContrary to accepted doctrine
- iconoclasticAttacking cherished beliefs
- contrarianChronic majority-opposer
rebellious · dissenting · heretical · subversive · countercultural · anti-establishment · freethinking · independent · maverick · renegade
groundbreaking
Introducing radical new ideas
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
- breakthroughSudden important advance
disruptive · revolutionary · trailblazing · inventive · novel · original · visionary · uncharted · experimental · radical
avant-garde
Innovative cultural pioneers
- experimentalTesting new methods
- abstractCondensed version of text
- surrealismIrrational, dreamlike aesthetic
dadaism · cubism · futurism · expressionism · minimalism · conceptual · installation · performance · neo-expressionism · postmodern
eccentric
Unconventional in character
kooky · oddball · peculiar · idiosyncratic · funky · wacky · off-the-wall · left-field · unorthodox · curious
nonconventionalconventional
Following accepted practices
traditional · orthodox · standard · customary · established
nonconventionalconventional
Following accepted practices
formulaic · unoriginal · derivative · predictable · stock
nonconventionalconventional
Following accepted practices
conformist · conservative · traditional · orthodox · mainstream
convention, conventional, convene, convent, unconventional, conventionally, conventionality, unconventionality, unconventionally