Meaning & use
unalike
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Meaning
adjectivenot comparable
Not similar to each other; different in nature or appearance.
Grammar: Used after linking verbs like 'be', 'seem', or 'look'; it does not come before a noun. Say 'They are unalike', not 'They are unalike people'.
Patterns
- be unalike
- look unalike
- very unalike
Although they are twins, their personalities are completely unalike.
The two paintings look unalike at first glance, but share the same color palette.
People often assume siblings will be similar, but they can be very unalike.
Common combinations
- completely unalike
- The two brothers are completely unalike in temperament.
- very unalike
- Their writing styles are very unalike.
- look unalike
- The twins look unalike, so it's easy to tell them apart.
- unalike in
- The houses are unalike in size and shape.
Synonyms and how they differ
- different
- Much more common and can be used before a noun (e.g., 'different ideas'); 'unalike' cannot.
- dissimilar
- More formal and often used in academic or technical writing; 'unalike' is slightly more literary.
- distinct
- Emphasizes clear separation or uniqueness, not just lack of similarity.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: unalike or unlikely?
unalike vs unlikely
Means 'not probable'; it is not related to similarity. 'Unalike' means 'not similar'.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
'Unalike' is used after a linking verb and cannot come before a noun, so 'unalike characters' (option 1) is wrong. It also does not take 'to' or 'than'; 'different from' or 'unlike' would be used instead.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “unalike”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.