uncanny Hear it!

uncanny Definition

un·canny (un kanē)

adjective

  1. mysterious or unfamiliar, esp. in such a way as to frighten or make uneasy; preternaturally strange; eerie; weird
  2. so remarkable, acute, etc. as to seem preternatural uncanny shrewdness

Etymology: see un- & canny

  • uncanceled
  • uncancelled
  • uncanonical

uncanny Related Forms

un·can·nily adverb un·can·ni·ness noun

uncanny Synonyms

uncanny

modif.

uncanny Usage Examples

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: Titanic ambition, obsessive vision, furious virtuosity, Prince's gifts have seemed uncanny -- Mephistophelean, profligate.
  • look: She looked quite uncanny; upright and gently rocking some 50 feet down on the firm seabed.

Infinitive complement

see: It can be quite uncanny to see a whole disk burn in a couple of minutes.

Modifies a noun

  • knack: He's got an uncanny knack of making runs.
  • resemblance: Its uncanny resemblance to the developments in our own world cannot be denied.
  • likeness: He also bears an uncanny likeness to the great Ron Nasty of the Rutles.
  • coincidence: Burling and Frost discovered in their correspondence that both shared an uncanny coincidence of events in their lives.
  • similarity: Johnny's voice has an uncanny similarity to Elvis.
  • ability: You have the uncanny ability to vanish whenever you want.

Modifying Another Word

  • almost: The independents had an almost uncanny eye in choosing young campaign organizers.
  • quite: It can be quite uncanny to see a whole disk burn in a couple of minutes.
  • so: It's so uncanny how you know I'm watching.
  • rather: Firstly it was rather uncanny as the engine drifted past the signalbox almost silently.
  • very: To the competition a very uncanny up the flags.
  • somewhat: The little house had already established a somewhat uncanny reputation.

Preposition: in

psychoanalysis: A montage film combining still and moving imagery which explores ideas of cinematic space and the uncanny in psychoanalysis.