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uncannystrange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way; having or seeming to have supernatural powers

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way; having or seeming to have supernatural powers

Pronunciation (IPA): /ʌnˈkæni/

Example Sentences

  • My dog has an uncanny ability to know when I'm about to leave the house.
  • There was an uncanny silence in the usually noisy classroom.
  • He bears an uncanny resemblance to his grandfather in old photos.

uncanny

ADJECTIVE

[/ʌnˈkæni/]

strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way; having or seeming to have supernatural powers

Mysteriously unsettling and strange
💡 Concept

Mysteriously unsettling and strange

Granny's knitting glows uncanny
🎵 Rhyme

Granny's knitting glows uncanny

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ʌnˈkæni/
🇬🇧 UK/ʌnˈkæni/

🌳Etymology

Prefixun--
Rootcanny

Origin

From Scottish English 'canny' (meaning shrewd or careful), combined with the prefix 'un-' (meaning not). The word originally meant 'not shrewd' or 'not knowing,' but evolved to mean strange or mysteriously unsettling.

Breakdown

un- (not) + canny (shrewd, knowing) = uncanny (strange, mysterious, uncannily unsettling)

🎵Rhyme

uncannyDannygrannynanny
uncanny
Danny
granny
nanny

🔗Collocations

uncanny resemblance
uncanny ability
uncanny accuracy
uncanny silence
uncanny valley

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My dog has an uncanny ability to know when I'm about to leave the house.

There was an uncanny silence in the usually noisy classroom.

He bears an uncanny resemblance to his grandfather in old photos.

😄 Fun example

It's uncanny how she always calls right when I'm thinking about her.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

eeriemysteriousspookysupernaturalweird

Antonyms

normalordinarynatural

Related

mysterioussupernaturalparanormalghostlyhaunting

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