uncanny
Noun
Medium difficulty
What does “uncanny” mean?
noun.strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way.
SAT Usage
the term often appears in passages exploring themes of mystery, the supernatural, or psychological tension. It emphasizes an unsettling or eerie quality that evokes discomfort or curiosity, distinguishing it from similar words like "strange" or "odd," which lack the same emotional weight and nuance of eeriness.
Common Confusions
Uncanny implies a disturbing or eerie quality that evokes discomfort, while bizarre usually suggests something that is simply unusual or outlandish without the same unsettling emotional weight.
Example Sentences
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She had an uncanny ability to anticipate her opponent's next move.
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The resemblance between the twins was uncanny, as if they shared a secret language that only they could understand through mere glances.
Word Parts: How to Remember “uncanny”
Break “uncanny” into its parts: un- (not, reverse). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.
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Prefix:
un-not, reverse (Old English)