Definitions

uncanny

[uhn-kan-ee] / ʌnˈkæn i /

ADJECTIVE

very strange, unusual

Synonyms

STRONGEST

astonishing astounding eerie exceptional extraordinary fantastic incredible magical miraculous remarkable singular spooky superhuman supernatural

WEAK

creepy devilish ghostly ghoulish inexplainable inspired mysterious mystifying preternatural prodigious scary secret supernormal supranormal unearthly unheard-of unnatural weird

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bad boring common commonplace conventional customary dull expected familiar natural normal ordinary poor regular unremarkable usual

WEAK

earthly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Lajos is born with skin so pale it is almost transparent, and while Mr. Biedermann soon ceases to mention the abnormality, it introduces Lajos’s uncanny lifelong sensation of invisibility.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

That’s not the only moment in Hobsbawm’s 1994 book “The Age of Extremes” that now reads as uncanny.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

Barry’s score remains as uncanny as his sense of drama.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

Their timing has long seemed almost uncanny, leading many people to assume that ravens simply follow wolves to find food.

From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026

She has this uncanny gift of delivering guilt tied up in a bow, and without fail, I accept it.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed

Vocabulary lists containing uncanny

100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 2

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Uncanny, Creepy, or Downright Scary: Words For Halloween

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!