Uncanniest: meaning, definitions and examples

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uncanniest

 

[ ʌnˈkæn.i.əst ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

strange feeling

The term 'uncanniest' refers to something that evokes a sense of unease or abnormality, often because it is strangely familiar yet unsettling. It describes situations, experiences, or entities that appear normal at first glance but possess an eerie quality that disturbs the observer. This word usually enhances the underlying tension or discomfort associated with the uncanny experience. 'Uncanniest' is often used in literature and art to convey that heightened level of strangeness.

Synonyms

eerily, most peculiar, strangest.

Examples of usage

  • The uncanniest thing happened during the concert.
  • He had the uncanniest feeling of being watched.
  • The uncanniest resemblance between them startled her.

Translations

Translations of the word "uncanniest" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mais estranho

🇮🇳 सबसे अजीब

🇩🇪 das Unheimlichste

🇮🇩 paling aneh

🇺🇦 найстрашніший

🇵🇱 najdziwniejszy

🇯🇵 最も不気味な

🇫🇷 le plus étrange

🇪🇸 el más extraño

🇹🇷 en garip

🇰🇷 가장 기괴한

🇸🇦 الأكثر غرابة

🇨🇿 nejpodivnější

🇸🇰 najdivnejší

🇨🇳 最奇怪的

🇸🇮 najčudnejši

🇮🇸 mesta skrítnari

🇰🇿 ең оғаш

🇬🇪 ყველაზე უცნაური

🇦🇿 ən qəribə

🇲🇽 el más extraño

Etymology

The word 'uncanny' originates from the early 17th century and combines the prefix 'un-' which denotes negation and the word 'canny', derived from the Scottish word 'canny', meaning knowledgeable or wise. The amalgamation forms 'uncanny', referring to something that is beyond the understood or familiar. The suffix '-est' denotes the superlative, which is used to indicate the highest degree of the quality described. Over time, 'uncanny' has come to be associated predominantly with feelings of eeriness, espousing the philosophical ideas of the uncanny put forth by Sigmund Freud, which emphasized the perplexing nature of the familiar becoming unfamiliar. Hence, when we use the term 'uncanniest', we are acknowledging the most potent presence of this unsettling quality.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #43,308, this word is among the least frequently used in common English. Understanding it can be beneficial for comprehensive language mastery, but it's not essential for most learners.