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When something is aberrant, it is unusual, not socially acceptable, or a departure from the norm.
Something that is amorphous has no clear shape, boundaries, or structure.
A curio is an object that is very old or unusual; thus, it is viewed as interesting.
A situation or thing that is discordant does not fit in with other things; therefore, it is disagreeable, strange, or unpleasant.
Things that are disparate are clearly different from each other and belong to different groups or classes.
Divergent opinions differ from each other; divergent paths move apart from one another.
If someone is eccentric, they behave in a strange and unusual way that is different from most people.
The word homogeneous is used to describe a group that has members or parts which are similar or are all of the same type.
Idiosyncratic tendencies, behavior, or habits are unusual and strange.
One thing that is incommensurate with another is different in its level, size, or quality from the second; this may lead to an unfair situation.
Something that is incongruous is strange when considered along with its group because it seems very different from the other things in its group.
Something that is inconspicuous does not attract attention and is not easily seen or noticed because it is small or ordinary.
Two irreconcilable opinions or points of view are so opposed to each other that it is not possible to accept both of them or reach a settlement between them.
Something that is mundane is very ordinary and not interesting or exciting, especially because it happens very often.
A paradox is a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or unrealistic but may surprisingly express a possible truth.
Someone has a parochial outlook when they are mostly concerned with narrow or limited issues that affect a small, local area or a very specific cause; they are also unconcerned with wider or more general issues.
Propriety is behaving in a socially acceptable and appropriate way.
Something prosaic is dull, boring, and ordinary.
If you are steadfast, you have a firm belief in your actions or opinions and refuse to give up or change them because you are certain that you are doing the right thing.
Something that is unadorned is not made more attractive with ornament or decoration.
Noun
anomaly
uh-NOM-uh-lee
Context
In her family of black-haired relatives, Annie’s bright-red locks were an anomaly. Her grandfather was very surprised by how different Annie looked from his other grandchildren and exclaimed, “What an anomaly this girl is—no one from this family has ever had red hair!” All the children in her neighborhood called her “carrot top” because of her anomalous, highly noticeable hair; she was the only child they knew with such a rare physical feature.
Quiz:Try again!
What is an example of an anomaly?
A type of plant that is rare and difficult to find.
A failing test grade from a top student in class.
A mistake that costs a company millions of dollars.
Abnormal An anomaly is abnormal, or not what you would normally expect!
Examples
"I wish the 2020 wildfires were an anomaly—but this will not be a one-time event. Unfortunately, it is a bellwether of the future," Brown tweeted on Thursday. "We are seeing the devastating effects of climate change in Oregon, on the entire West Coast, and throughout the world."
—
NPR
When Fell came across an archaeological anomaly, he gnawed at it relentlessly until an explanation issued forth. For instance, his curiosity aroused by oddities at the Comalcalco temple site, on the coast of Tabasco, in southeastern Mexico, Fell prepared reams of comparative analysis in support of a Mediterranean role in the temple's origins.
—
The Atlantic
What he was looking at was a blue American lobster, floating among the common red namesakes of the seafood empire. Some researchers think only one in two million American lobsters are blue, the result of a genetic anomaly.
—
NPR
Under its influence, spacecraft can go barmy, losing data, having computer upsets and seeing ghostly images where none exist. The reason is the anomaly causes a dip in the earth’s radiation belt, charged subatomic particles that the magnetic field normally keeps at least 500 miles above the Earth.
—
The New York Times
An anomaly is “not the same” as other things. Note here that the “h” in the root word “homo” is dropped for purposes of easier pronunciation.
Word Theater
YouTube: Daniel Simons (Selective Attention Test) Will you see the anomaly?
The panel shows a small video clip of either the word in actual use or a scene that represents the meaning of a word. This not only breaks up the monotony of studying words but also provides another avenue to strengthen word meaning. Enjoy!
Word Constellation
Click for an interactive map of this word
Related Words
aberrant ·
amorphous ·
curio ·
discordant ·
disparate ·
divergent+ ·
eccentric ·
idiosyncratic ·
incommensurate ·
incongruous ·
irreconcilable ·
paradox ·
homogeneous ·
inconspicuous ·
mundane ·
parochial ·
propriety ·
prosaic ·
steadfast ·
unadorned ·
Similar sense
Opposite sense
Word Variants
anomalous
adj
→
abnormal, different
The section lists important variants and alternate definitions of the headword. Knowing variants will often help you both remember and understand the word. Not all variants are listed - only the ones we think that are important for you to know.
