exceptional
adjective
ex·cep·tion·al ik-ˈsep-shnəl 
-shə-nᵊl
1
: forming an exception : rare
an exceptional number of rainy days
2
: better than average : superior
exceptional skill
3
: deviating from the norm: such as
a
: having above or below average intelligence
b
: physically disabled
exceptionality
ik-ˌsep-shə-ˈna-lə-tē
noun exceptionalness noun
Synonyms
- aberrant
- aberrated
- abnormal
- anomalous
- atypical
- especial
- exceeding
- extraordinaire
- extraordinary
- freak
- odd
- peculiar
- phenomenal
- preternatural
- rare
- singular
- uncommon
- uncustomary
- unique
- unusual
- unwonted
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
We're bending the rules for this exceptional situation. an exceptional student in math The seafood dishes at this restaurant are exceptional. a separate school for exceptional children
Recent Examples on the Web Really, Sweden was exceptional in holding off this moment for so long. 
Dominic Green, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 But these were exceptional, like museum pieces, works of art. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 11 Sep. 2022 Quarterback Dak Prescott can be exceptional, but there are a lot of question marks in that receiving corps. Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2022 The cast—which includes Brittany Snow, Kid Cudi, Jenna Ortega, and a star-making turn from Mia Goth—is exceptional, and the filmmaking matches. Evan Romano, Men's Health, 30 Aug. 2022 As malignant as Begay’s work was for him, his circumstances aren’t exceptional. Eli Cahan, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2022 Andrea Fischer, a glacier scientist at the Austrian Academy of Science, agreed that this year’s melt season is exceptional. Kasha Patel, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Aug. 2022 Mother was relieved, because Frank was exceptional. Paul Theroux, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 This very tight, low-growing evergreen groundcover is exceptional. Dennis Peck, oregonlive, 14 Aug. 2022 See More
Dominic Green, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 But these were exceptional, like museum pieces, works of art. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 11 Sep. 2022 Quarterback Dak Prescott can be exceptional, but there are a lot of question marks in that receiving corps. Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2022 The cast—which includes Brittany Snow, Kid Cudi, Jenna Ortega, and a star-making turn from Mia Goth—is exceptional, and the filmmaking matches. Evan Romano, Men's Health, 30 Aug. 2022 As malignant as Begay’s work was for him, his circumstances aren’t exceptional. Eli Cahan, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2022 Andrea Fischer, a glacier scientist at the Austrian Academy of Science, agreed that this year’s melt season is exceptional. Kasha Patel, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Aug. 2022 Mother was relieved, because Frank was exceptional. Paul Theroux, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 This very tight, low-growing evergreen groundcover is exceptional. Dennis Peck, oregonlive, 14 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
exceptional
adjective
ex·cep·tion·al ik-ˈsep-shə-nᵊl
1
: being unusual
an exceptional amount of rain
2
: better than average : superior
exceptional
adjective
1
as in extraordinary
being out of the ordinary an exceptional amount of snow fell in March Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- extraordinary
- unusual
- unique
- outstanding
- rare
- uncommon
- abnormal
- remarkable
- incredible
- singular
- odd
- phenomenal
- exceeding
- atypical
- anomalous
- noticeable
- striking
- peculiar
- especial
- aberrant
- notable
- freak
- prominent
- unwonted
- conspicuous
- uncustomary
- preternatural
- extraordinaire
- salient
- eccentric
- aberrated
- bizarre
- strange
- deviant
- unimaginable
- inconceivable
- unthinkable
- oddball
- freakish
- incomprehensible
- weird
- outlandish
- quaint
- monstrous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ordinary
- common
- normal
- typical
- usual
- unexceptional
- customary
- unextraordinary
- everyday
- frequent
- familiar
2
as in disabled
deprived of the power to perform one or more natural bodily activities her experience working with exceptional children was rewarding and inspiring Synonyms & Similar Words
- disabled
- challenged
- impaired
- differently abled
- blind
- deaf
- sick
- lame
- special-needs
- unfit
- paralyzed
- quadriplegic
- unwell
- unhealthy
- halt
- incapacitated
- diseased
- ailing
- hard of hearing
- immobilized
- mute
- ill
- immobile
- unsound
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unimpaired
- well
- nondisabled
- robust
- whole
- sound
- wholesome
- abled
- healthy
- able-bodied
- fit
- hearty
- bouncing
- hale
- chipper
3
as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind a special school for exceptional children Synonyms & Similar Words
- intelligent
- brilliant
- clever
- quick
- fast
- smart
- sharp
- bright
- keen
- skilled
- wise
- educated
- nimble
- wise
- brainy
- alert
- ultrasmart
- acute
- quick-witted
- cunning
- ingenious
- resourceful
- creative
- astute
- insightful
- learned
- sharp-witted
- supersmart
- reasonable
- sensible
- knowledgeable
- perceptive
- savvy
- schooled
- discerning
- hyperintelligent
- perspicacious
- informed
- knowing
- sound
- apt
- cerebral
- inventive
- sagacious
- literate
- erudite
- scholarly
- trained
- logical
- heady
- judicious
- prudent
- highbrow
- rational
- genial
- percipient
- shrewd
- sane
- wily
- sage
- foxy
- crafty
- sapient
- well-read
- sapient
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- simple
- stupid
- dense
- slow
- soft
- thick
- dull
- opaque
- dumb
- fatuous
- unbrilliant
- obtuse
- vacuous
- dim
- unintelligent
- dopey
- mindless
- doltish
- boneheaded
- witless
- thickheaded
- knuckleheaded
- dunderheaded
- pinheaded
- lamebrained
- brainless
- senseless
- lamebrain
- feebleminded
- idiotic
- softheaded
- dorky
- unsmart
- chuckleheaded
- silly
- bubbleheaded
- foolish
- idiotical
- gormless
- simpleminded
- moronic
- imbecile
- imbecilic
- ignorant
- dopy
- lunkheaded
- airheaded
- insane
- thick-witted
- absurd
- uneducated
- dim-witted
- uninformed
- brain-dead
- crazy
- illiterate
- birdbrained
- half-witted
- empty-headed
- weak-minded
- untaught
- zany
- unintellectual
- nonintellectual
- slow-witted
- mad
- unthinking
- wacky
- nutty
- unacademic
- lowbrow
- unwise
- preposterous
- nonsensical
- lunatic
- whacky
- asinine
- kooky
- boobish
- loony
- balmy
- daft
- sappy
- daffy
- cuckoo
- fool
- half-baked
- screwball
- dotty
- dippy
- harebrained
- crackpot
- cockeyed
- looney
- featherheaded
- tomfool
- half-baked
- kookie
