anomalies

noun

plural of anomaly
1
as in exceptions
something that is different from what is ordinary or expected her C grade is an anomaly, as she's never made anything except A's and B's before

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2
as in abnormalities
a person, thing, or event that is far from normal snow in July is an anomaly in most of the northern hemisphere

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of anomalies There were no reports of anomalies from about a dozen nuclear power plants and other facilities that handle nuclear materials, the Nuclear Regulation Authority said. — ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026 The platform manages client dashboards, drafts performance reports, monitors data quality, flags anomalies, supports internal operations, and synthesizes context from meetings so leaders are not forced to sit in every room to stay informed. — Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 The technology is well suited to many complex and repeatable workflows that define the function, from monitoring regulatory changes and reviewing invoices to identifying anomalies and forecast variances. — Hugo Sarrazin, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 The recent confluence of record visitor volume, fluctuating boundaries, climate anomalies and staffing shortages is fundamentally increasing the risks of owning, acquiring or starting a business in a gateway economy. — Nancy Forster-Holt, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026 Travel Clothes to Stop Sweat at TSA Sweat can cause anomalies on TSA body scanners, leading to additional screenings. — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2026 The pause comes as a result of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services audits showing payment anomalies in both states, with reviews in California finding certain in-home care programs exceeding national trends in spending. — Bloomberg, Daily News, 21 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anomalies
  1. exceptions
  2. abnormalities
  3. rarities
  4. mutations
Noun
  • With rare exceptions, EV sound is little more than an affectation.
    — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Washington had carved out exceptions for itself and some European countries to buy Russian oil, and the Biden administration had even encouraged India to buy Russian oil under a price cap as part of a plan to stabilize the global oil market.
    — C. Raja Mohan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of exceptions
Noun
  • After her annual mammogram showed abnormalities, Oteri hadn’t initially been concerned.
    — Eileen Finan, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The scan would serve as an additional safeguard, since breast MRIs can detect abnormalities that mammograms miss.
    — Lauren Sausser, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of abnormalities
Noun
  • With price tags far beyond the reach of the average museum, many of these rarities end up in private collections, including those of celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe.
    — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike Russell, whose legacy has been beautifully maintained in books, films, and re-releases, Hall’s solo work has only been available as a series of rarities and independent releases.
    — Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026
Definition of rarities
Noun
  • High doses of radiation damage DNA and can cause mutations that lead to cancer.
    — Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Researchers spent decades trying to target a group of mutations called RAS — responsible for nearly a third of all human cancers — but the protein’s flat shape defied typical drugs.
    — Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of mutations

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anoints
anomalies
anomalous
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Cite this Entry

“Anomalies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anomalies. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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