uncanny | Definition & Meaning for the SAT
You've heard of the X-Men? What about the Uncanny X-Men? What does UNCANNY mean, anyway?
🧠 Quick vocab quiz
First, try this quick vocab quiz question:
uncanny most nearly means
(A) commonplace
(B) supernatural
(C) larger than expected
(D) reliable
(E) funny
And one more to try:
Which of the following could best be described as uncanny?
(A) It was a hot summer night, but Lisa felt a chill as soon as she entered the abandoned house.
(B) The moon was a pale yellow color earlier in the evening.
(C) Trevor was able to solve complex puzzles faster than most.
(D) Diwina had a calming voice, which made people feel comfortable.
(E) Pam had an infallible memory for details, probably because she takes extensive notes on everything important to her.
Take note of your answer! Write it down, or use a mnemonic to remember it. The answer is below.
ℹ️ Part of speech
uncanny is an ADJECTIVE.
🗣️ Pronunciation
uncanny is pronounced /ʌn.ˈkæn.i/ or uhn-KAN-ee.
️ 📚️ Definition
uncanny means strange or mysterious, as if it is from a supernatural source. Example: an uncanny ability to make accurate predictions.
📰 Examples
Here are some examples of uncanny in usage:
Aimee had an uncanny ability to guess the right answer.
It was an uncanny coincidence that they both chose to wear the same dress to the party.
His accurate prediction of how his teacher would react seemed uncanny.
"The uncanny valley" reference describes that creepy feeling we get from robots that look almost, but not quite, human. The closer they get to perfect imitation without achieving it, the more disturbing they become.
💁🏼 Tips!
Uncanny is often used to describe something that is so mysterious or strange that it seems to be from a supernatural source. It can also be used to describe something that is unusual or out of the ordinary, like an uncanny ability to understand something.
And you can't learn about the word uncanny without a mention of the related word canny, which basically means shrewd or having good judgment.
✅ Quiz answers
Answer to the quiz question: The best answers are: B, supernatural, and A It was a hot summer night, but Lisa felt a chill as soon as she entered the abandoned house.
👋 Bye for now
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