anything but

phrase

: not at all
He looked anything but happy.
Though he said he was happy, he looked anything but.
This problem is anything but new.

Examples of anything but in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some Fourth of July celebrants wanted to talk about anything but politics. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 My journey—from a Jewish refugee fleeing ethnic persecution in Belarus to the CEO of a nursing education group—has been anything but linear. Mikhail Shneyder, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 During a recent sit-down with Flow Space, Monaghan shared what this busy new chapter has taught her about midlife friendship, protecting her energy and making wellness feel doable, even when life is anything but slow. Mara Santilli, Flow Space, 2 July 2026 As Americans come out to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday on Saturday, the temperatures across huge swaths of the nation will be anything but celebratory. Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for anything but

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anything but.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anything%20but. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster