unorthodox
Not by tradition
Unorthodox means departing from what is traditional, accepted, or established.
An unorthodox approach to a problem ignores conventional methods.
Unorthodox views challenge mainstream thinking.
The word carries less negative weight than words like deviant or improper—it often implies creativity or independence rather than wrongness: Her unorthodox teaching methods got results.
Disrespectful toward the divine
- sacrilegiousGrossly irreverent toward sanctity
- iconoclasticAttacking cherished beliefs
- irreverentDisrespectful toward authority
- dissentingExpressing disagreement formally
schismatic · apostate · impious · profane · taboo · forbidden · heretic · infidel
Testing new methods
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- trailblazingBeing the first through
- groundbreakingIntroducing radical new ideas
novel · visionary · forward-thinking · breakthrough · inventive · ingenious · original · creative
Idiosyncratically unusual
- idiosyncraticDistinctively individual in nature
- offbeatPleasantly strange or unusual
- unconventionalDeparting from standard practice
- peculiarStrangely unusual
odd · singular · unique · weird · unusual · strange · atypical · anomalous
Independent-minded rule-breaker
- iconoclastAttacker of cherished beliefs
- free-thinkerOne who reasons independently
- individualistOne who values autonomy
- rebelAuthority defier
outsider · contrarian · dissenter · independent · renegade · freethinker · questioner · challenger
Another available choice
- improvisedCreated without prior planning
- makeshiftTemporary, improvised substitute
- workaroundMakeshift bypass of difficulty
- hackShortcut or breach
shortcut · jerry-rigged · ad-hoc · informal · guerrilla · unsanctioned · unofficial · irregular
blasphemous
Disrespectful toward the divine
- sacrilegiousGrossly irreverent toward sanctity
- iconoclasticAttacking cherished beliefs
- irreverentDisrespectful toward authority
dissenting · schismatic · apostate · impious · profane · taboo · forbidden · heretic · infidel · sectarian
experimental
Testing new methods
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- trailblazingBeing the first through
groundbreaking · novel · visionary · forward-thinking · breakthrough · inventive · ingenious · original · creative · disruptive
quirky
Idiosyncratically unusual
- idiosyncraticDistinctively individual in nature
- offbeatPleasantly strange or unusual
- unconventionalDeparting from standard practice
peculiar · odd · singular · unique · weird · unusual · strange · atypical · anomalous · irregular
maverick
Independent-minded rule-breaker
- iconoclastAttacker of cherished beliefs
- free-thinkerOne who reasons independently
- individualistOne who values autonomy
rebel · outsider · contrarian · dissenter · independent · renegade · freethinker · questioner · challenger · anti-establishment
alternative
Another available choice
- improvisedCreated without prior planning
- makeshiftTemporary, improvised substitute
- workaroundMakeshift bypass of difficulty
hack · shortcut · jerry-rigged · ad-hoc · informal · guerrilla · unsanctioned · unofficial · irregular · unapproved
- unconventionalunconventional, nontraditional, nonconformist, offbeat, atypical
- dissentersdissenter, dissenters, dissidents, dissident, nonconformists
- playstylesaggressive, defensive, passive, casual, competitive
- free spiritsfree spirit, free thinker, free-thinker, freethinker, individualist
- wuxiamartial artist, swordsman, kung fu, martial arts, qi
- batting stylesdefensive, aggressive, switch hitting, straight bat, front foot
unorthodoxorthodox
Conforming to established belief
conventional · traditional · conformist · standard · normal
unorthodoxorthodox
Conforming to established belief
dogmatic · doctrinaire · canonical · dogmatical · fundamentalist
unorthodoxconservative
Cautious about altering customs
hidebound · rigid · narrow-minded · blinkered · stodgy
- unorthodox beliefsOpinions diverging from convention