English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com

uncanny

0 synonyms and 0 antonyms for uncanny, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Strange in a way that feels unsettling or almost supernatural.

We haven't recorded synonyms for uncanny yet. You can still read its full definition, where it comes from, or words that rhyme with it.

How to use uncanny

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

uncanny resemblance uncanny accuracy uncanny silence

Etymology

From un- + canny ("knowing, familiar") — literally "beyond what is familiar or knowable." The related noun sense translates Sigmund Freud's German term unheimlich, popularised in his 1919 essay "Das Unheimliche."

Full origin of uncanny →

Frequently asked questions

What does “uncanny” mean?

The word “uncanny” means strange in a way that feels unsettling or almost supernatural. In plain terms, so strange or eerily precise that it feels almost impossible to explain naturally.

How do you pronounce “uncanny”?

“Uncanny” is pronounced uhn-KA-nee (/ʌnˈkæni/ in IPA).

How do you use “uncanny” in a sentence?

Here is “uncanny” used in a sentence: “There was an uncanny silence in the house after everyone left.”

What part of speech is “uncanny”?

“Uncanny” is an adjective.

Where does the word “uncanny” come from?

The word “uncanny” dates back to around 1919 and comes from German. From un- + canny ("knowing, familiar") — literally "beyond what is familiar or knowable." The related noun sense translates Sigmund Freud's German term unheimlich, popularised in his 1919 essay "Das Unheimliche.".

Is “uncanny” a common word?

“Uncanny” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of uncanny
Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.