A known mistake is better than an unknown truth.
Source: tatoeba (2274)
Unknown
/ʌnˈnoʊn/
Synonyms for "unknown" (234 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (47)
Strong matches (70)
in a fogin eclipsein purdahin the wingsincalculableincognitoincognizableincommunicadoindefiniteingloriousinnominatelatentlife after deathlife to comelittle knownmatter of ignorancemysteriousmysterynnameless
Show 29 more words
next worldno credit tonobodyobfuscatedobscureobscuredoccultotherworldoutlandishparadisepostexistencepuzzlepuzzlingreconditerenownlessriddlesealedsealed booksecludedseclusesecretsequesteredstrangeterra incognitathe beyondthe good hereafterthe gravethe great beyondthe great hereafter
Adjective(10 words)
Noun(8 words)
Determiner(1 words)
no obvious cause
Verb(2 words)
obscurestremains a mystery
Related words (117)
the hereafterthe incalculablethe strangethe unfamiliarthe unknowablethe unknownunacknowledgedunapparentunapprehendedunascertainedunbeknownuncelebratedunchartedunclassifiedundefinedunder an eclipseunder coverunder house arrestunder wrapsundercover
Show 48 more words
undergroundundesignatedundisclosedundiscoverableundiscoveredundistinguishedundivulgedunexplainedunexploredunexplored groundunexplored territoryunexposedunfamedunfamiliarunfathomedunglorifiedunheardunheard ofunheard-ofunhonoredunidentifieduninvestigatedunknowableunknown quantityunnamedunnotableunnotedunnoticedunperceivedunplumbedunpopularunrecognizedunremarkedunrenownedunrevealedunspecifiedunsungunsuspecteduntolduntouchedvirginwhat bodeswhat is fatedwithout a nameworld to comewrapped in cloudsxz
Adjective(30 words)
unacquainteduncharteredundetermined massundetermined resultundetermined statusundiscovered physicsunfamiliar conductunfamiliar countryunfamiliar placeunfamiliar speciesunfixed valueunforeseeableunidentifiableunidentifiedunidentified artifactunidentified objectunknown domainunknown numberunlistedunmapped region
Show 10 more words
unmeasurable extentunmodeled reality in scienceunnamedunreadunrecognizableunrecognized authorityunreportedunspecified depthunspecified notationunsung
Noun(19 words)
unclearundeterminedundisclosedunexplainedunexplained wordunfamiliarunidentifiedunidentified personunidentified statusunknown regionunknown valueunresolvedunseenvarvariablevariable datavariable symbolvarsx numeral
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: stranger, unknown quantity, a better place, able, abstruse.
- Sentence evidence is available for unknown, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "unknown".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "unknown"
Keep "unknown" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "unknown" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "unknown", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "unknown" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
15 entriesMore specific
16 entriesmystery personundeterminedundisclosedunexplainedunidentifiedunidentified objectunknown callerunknown coefficientunknown constantunknown donorunknown eventunknown factorunknown objectunknown parameterunknown quantityunknown value
Collocations
9 entriesthe unknownunknown authorunknown factorunknown originunknown outcomeunknown parameterunknown quantityunknown valueunknown variable
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
1 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
17 entriesShowing 16 of 17 words.
Sample sentences
18 total sentences available.
The known must be separated from the unknown.
Source: tatoeba (20522)
The origin of the fire is unknown.
Source: tatoeba (23856)
Sophie had been looking forward to getting another letter from the unknown sender.
Source: tatoeba (43238)
Showing 4 of 18 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "unknown"?
Closest matches include stranger, unknown quantity, a better place, able, abstruse.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "unknown"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.