unoriginal

adjective

un·​orig·​i·​nal ˌən-ə-ˈrj-jə-nᵊl How to pronounce unoriginal (audio)
-ˈrij-nəl
Synonyms of unoriginalnext
: lacking originality : not original
an unoriginal idea
a movie with a highly unoriginal plot
an unoriginal thinker

Synonyms of unoriginal

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Examples of unoriginal in a Sentence

critics faulted the novel for having a painfully unoriginal plot
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.
This seems a rather unoriginal name to be chosen by a woman whose talent lay with words. — Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025 In sales, trust is currency, and nothing burns trust faster than sounding unoriginal, lazy or shady. — Don Markland, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025 This makes your home feel intentional and personal instead of sterile and unoriginal. — Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026 Other artists copied his style, which at first the artist considered flattering but later saw it as unoriginal as his popularity grew. — Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unoriginal

Word History

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unoriginal was in 1749

Rhymes for unoriginal

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Browse Nearby Words

unoriented
unoriginal
unoriginate
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Cite this Entry

“Unoriginal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unoriginal. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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