unconventional
Against the grain
Unconventional describes something that departs from established norms or standard practice: an unconventional approach to teaching, unconventional career path.
The word often carries a positive connotation of originality or independence, though it can also signal disapproval of deviation from tradition: Her unconventional lifestyle worried her parents.
Idiosyncratically unusual
- offbeatPleasantly strange or unusual
- oddballEccentric individual
- kookyOddball in manner
- zanyAmusingly absurd
outlandish · bizarre · peculiar · idiosyncratic · unorthodox · freakish · anomalous · aberrant
Another available choice
- countercultureRejection of mainstream values
- bohemianArtistic nonconformist type
- iconoclasticAttacking cherished beliefs
- hereticalContrary to accepted doctrine
maverick · contrarian · anti-establishment · rebellious · defiant · subversive · renegade · dissenting
Showing imaginative skill
- imaginativeAble to conceive new ideas
- visionaryImaginative planner of futures
- experimentalTesting new methods
- avant-gardeInnovative cultural pioneers
expressive · abstract · conceptual · surreal · fanciful · whimsical · fantastical · inventive
Not often encountered
- uncommonSeldom occurring or found
- rareSeldom found or seen
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
abnormal · anomalous · deviant · divergent · nonstandard · unaccustomed · unfamiliar · offbeat
Introducing radical new ideas
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- trailblazingBeing the first through
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
- disruptiveTending to interrupt order
revolutionary · breakthrough · novel · game-changing · transformative · radical · progressive · forward-thinking
quirky
Idiosyncratically unusual
zany · outlandish · bizarre · peculiar · idiosyncratic · unorthodox · freakish · anomalous · aberrant · strange
alternative
Another available choice
- countercultureRejection of mainstream values
- bohemianArtistic nonconformist type
- iconoclasticAttacking cherished beliefs
heretical · maverick · contrarian · anti-establishment · rebellious · defiant · subversive · renegade · dissenting · free-spirited
artistic
Showing imaginative skill
- imaginativeAble to conceive new ideas
- visionaryImaginative planner of futures
- experimentalTesting new methods
avant-garde · expressive · abstract · conceptual · surreal · fanciful · whimsical · fantastical · inventive · ingenious
unusual
Not often encountered
- uncommonSeldom occurring or found
- rareSeldom found or seen
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
irregular · abnormal · anomalous · deviant · divergent · nonstandard · unaccustomed · unfamiliar · offbeat · surprising
groundbreaking
Introducing radical new ideas
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- trailblazingBeing the first through
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
disruptive · revolutionary · breakthrough · novel · game-changing · transformative · radical · progressive · forward-thinking · futuristic
- unconventionalnontraditional, nonconformist, unorthodox, offbeat, atypical
- creative traitscreative, imaginative, inventive, innovative, original
- strangenessodd, weird, strange, bizarre, peculiar
- descriptorsnew, novel, original, innovative, modern
- free spiritsfree spirit, free thinker, free-thinker, freethinker, individualist
- Artistic Freedomartistic freedom, creative freedom, artistic autonomy, creative autonomy, artistic license
unconventionalconventional
Following accepted practices
traditional · conformist · normal · orthodox · standard
unconventionalconventional
Following accepted practices
orthodox · standard · formal · traditional · routine
unconventionaltraditional
Following long-held customs
conservative · rigid · hidebound · dogmatic · narrow-minded
- unconventional warfareCovert, asymmetric military operations
- unconventional tacticsNon-standard approaches to challenges
- unconventional medicineHealthcare outside orthodox practice