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

Archaeologists have an uncanny ability to ignore the discomforts and channel the time period and the people they're studying.

From The Daily Beast

In an uncanny way, that describes the precise definition of the hipster, when the term first appeared in the American vocabulary.

From The Daily Beast

Another had an uncanny ability to land paving jobs in Southern Nevada.

From The Daily Beast

Almost nothing has been touched since the fall of the USSR in 1991, providing an uncanny glimpse behind the Iron Curtain.

From The Daily Beast

And from the side, with the lips and ears elongated, the resemblance is uncanny.

From The Daily Beast

When the ship tossed in an unusually rough crossing he was prepared to admit to himself that it was an uncanny coincidence.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a silence after this somewhat lengthy speech, and something like an uncanny feeling possessed the listeners.

From Project Gutenberg

For, singular, uncanny circumstance, this was a one-eyed raven which sat upon the shoulder of his one-eyed master!

From Project Gutenberg

All round them was familiar ground, but the things they knew the best looked strange and uncanny.

From Project Gutenberg

Maybe I spoke more boldly than I felt, for indeed the whole business and the place made all seem uncanny.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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