uncanny

[ uhn-kan-ee ]

adjective

1. having or seeming to have a supernatural or inexplicable basis; beyond the ordinary or normal; extraordinary:

   uncanny accuracy; an uncanny knack of foreseeing trouble.

2. mysterious; arousing superstitious fear or dread; uncomfortably strange:

   Uncanny sounds filled the house.

   Synonyms: odd, preternatural

   Antonyms: natural, ordinary

uncanny

/ ʌnˈkænɪ /

adjective

1. characterized by apparently supernatural wonder, horror, etc
2. beyond what is normal or expected

   an uncanny accuracy

Derived Forms

• unˈcanniness, noun
• unˈcannily, adverb

Other Words From

• un·canni·ly adverb
• un·canni·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of uncanny¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; un- ¹ + canny

Synonym Study

See weird.

Example Sentences

Both have family lives that are jeopardized by their work and there’s an uncanny parallel between the two, even though their paths rarely intersect.

From Los Angeles Times

The Harris sketch also gave cast member James Austin Johnson another crack at his uncanny Trump impersonation.

From Salon

But Raiola has also struggled to maintain his early promise that sparked comparisons to Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes beyond the uncanny physical resemblance.

From Los Angeles Times

It doesn’t always work: Many of these projects drift into an unappealing uncanny valley.

From Los Angeles Times

Just the sunny day causing an old building to creak and groan, or something uncanny?

From BBC

Related Words

• astonishing
• astounding
• eerie
• exceptional
• extraordinary
• fantastic
• incredible
• magical
• miraculous
• remarkable
• singular
• spooky
• superhuman
• supernatural