uncanny
gb/ʌŋkˈæni/ us/ʌŋkˈæni/
C1
English
kísérteties, hátborzongató, szinte természetfeletti
C1
1
kísérteties
C1
Usage pattern:
[an] uncanny [feeling/silence/atmosphere]
There was an uncanny silence after the power went out.
Amikor elment az áram, kísérteties csend lett.
The empty playground had an uncanny atmosphere at dusk.
Az üres játszótérnek alkonyatkor kísérteties hangulata volt.
I had an uncanny feeling that someone was watching me.
Learner examples
The house felt uncanny at night.
A ház éjszaka kísértetiesnek hatott.
I got an uncanny feeling in the dark.
A sötétben furcsa, nyugtalanító érzés fogott el.
Common mistake:
Using it as a simple synonym of strange; uncanny usually suggests an eerie or unsettling feeling.
Meaning
strangely unsettling or eerie
Collocations
an uncanny feeling
|uncanny silence
|an uncanny calm
|an uncanny atmosphere
|uncanny noises
|an uncanny sense
|uncanny events
|an uncanny presence
|uncanny shadows
|uncanny stillness
Synonyms
eerie (More strongly suggests something ghostly or spooky.)
|
creepy (More informal and often linked to fear or disgust.)
|
unsettling (Focuses on making you feel uneasy rather than mysterious.)
Antonyms
ordinary (Not strange or mysterious.)
|
reassuring (Creates comfort rather than unease.)
Themes
emotions
|mystery
|perception
Definition
Strange in a scary or mysterious way.
Strange in a way that feels mysterious, unsettling, or hard to explain.
C1
2
Usage pattern:
an uncanny [ability/talent/accuracy] (to [do something])
She has an uncanny ability to remember faces.
Szinte természetfeletti képessége van az arcok megjegyzésére.
His predictions were uncanny in their accuracy.
Előrejelzései szinte természetfeletti pontosságúak voltak.
The team showed uncanny timing in the final play.
Learner examples
He has uncanny accuracy.
Szinte természetfeletti a pontossága.
She has an uncanny ability to learn languages.
Szinte természetfeletti képessége van a nyelvtanuláshoz.
Common mistake:
Assuming uncanny is always negative; it can also praise someone’s impressive accuracy or skill.
Meaning
remarkably accurate or skillful
Collocations
uncanny accuracy
|an uncanny ability
|uncanny timing
|an uncanny instinct
|uncanny precision
|an uncanny talent
|uncanny intuition
|uncanny knack
|an uncanny memory
|uncanny perception
Synonyms
remarkable (Positive and general, without the sense of mystery.)
|
extraordinary (Stronger than remarkable; does not imply eeriness.)
|
astonishing (Emphasizes the listener’s surprise.)
Antonyms
ordinary (Not unusually impressive.)
|
inaccurate (Not correct or precise.)
Themes
ability
|work
|perception
Definition
Surprisingly good, like a special talent.
Unusually good, accurate, or skillful, in a way that seems almost beyond normal explanation.
C1
3
kísérteties
C1
Usage pattern:
uncanny [resemblance/similarity/likeness] (to [someone/something])
The actor bears an uncanny resemblance to the singer.
A színész kísértetiesen hasonlít az énekesre.
Their stories have an uncanny similarity, even down to small details.
A történeteik kísértetiesen hasonlóak, még az apró részletekben is.
The painting’s colors have an uncanny match to the real landscape.
Learner examples
She has an uncanny resemblance to her mother.
Kísértetiesen hasonlít az anyjára.
Common mistake:
Using it for simple similarity; uncanny resemblance suggests the similarity is striking and a bit mysterious.
Meaning
strikingly similar to something
Collocations
uncanny resemblance
|uncanny similarity
|uncanny likeness
|uncanny parallel
|an uncanny match
|uncanny detail
|uncanny copy
|uncanny double
|uncanny imitation
|uncanny reflection
Synonyms
striking (Emphasizes being noticeable, not necessarily mysterious.)
|
near-identical (Focuses on closeness of match, without emotional effect.)
Antonyms
dissimilar (Not alike in important ways.)
|
different (General opposite of similar.)
Themes
people
|perception
Definition
Very similar in a surprising way.
So similar to someone or something else that the resemblance feels surprising or hard to explain.
Grammar
Dictionary form
uncanny
IPA
GB/ʌŋkˈæni/
US/ʌŋkˈæni/
Syllables & stress
un - canny (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (canny)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: uncanny
Expressions
have an uncanny knack for [something]
1/hˈæv ən ʌŋkˈæni nˈæk fɚ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
have a surprising natural talent
To be naturally very good at something.
Examples
- He has an uncanny knack for finding the best route through traffic.
- She’s got an uncanny knack for saying the right thing at the right time.
- My brother has an uncanny knack for breaking phones within a week.
Learner examples
- I have an uncanny knack for remembering names.
the uncanny
1/ðə ʌŋkˈæni/
fixed phrase
literary
eerie feeling of not-quite-right
An eerie feeling that something familiar is strange.
Examples
- The film uses mirrors and doubles to evoke the uncanny.
- The uncanny is often created by making everyday places feel slightly wrong.
- Her photographs explore the uncanny in ordinary suburban scenes.
uncanny valley
1/ʌŋkˈæni vˈæli/
fixed phrase
technical
discomfort from almost-human images
The creepy feeling when a robot or CGI looks almost human.
Examples
- The animated character looks realistic, but it falls into the uncanny valley.
- Some humanoid robots trigger the uncanny valley because their expressions seem slightly off.
- The director avoided the uncanny valley by making the characters more stylized.
Learner examples
- That robot is in the uncanny valley.