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Definition of uncanny

uncanny

/ʌnˈkæn.i/
un · can · ny
Adverb:uncannily
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uncanny Lexical Profile

uncanny Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Strikingly accurate, perceptive, or exact beyond what is normal or expected.

Example

"The portrait bore an uncanny resemblance to her great-grandmother at the same age."

2

Strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling, eerie, or seemingly supernatural way.

Example

"Walking through the abandoned theater gave the visitors an uncanny feeling that they were being watched."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for uncanny

• Nearby Words

uncalled
uncanceled
uncannily
uncanny
uncap
uncapitalized
uncapped

Word Origin & Etymology

Originated in late 16th-century Scots, formed from the prefix 'un-' and 'canny' (meaning 'knowing' or 'safe'), originally describing someone careless or malicious before evolving in the 18th century to mean 'mysterious' or 'supernatural'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Uncanny. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/uncanny
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