Synonyms for unless
ʌnˈlɛs, ən-un·less

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:3.9 / 9 votes

1. unlessconjunction

   Except on a specified condition; if not.

   I’m leaving unless I get a pay rise.

   Antonyms:
   if

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.3 / 4 votes

1. unless

   But ranges from the faintest contrast to absolute negation; as, I am willing to go, but (on the other hand) content to stay; he is not an honest man, but (on the contrary) a villain. The contrast may be with a silent thought; as, but let us go (it being understood that we might stay longer). In restrictive use, except and excepting are slightly more emphatic than but; we say, no injury but a scratch; or, no injury except some painful bruises. Such expressions as "words are but breath" (nothing but) may be referred to the restrictive use by ellipsis. So may the use of but in the sense of unless; as, "it never rains but it pours." To the same head must be referred the conditional use; as, "you may go, but with your father's consent" (i. e., "provided you have," "except that you must have," etc.). "Doubt but" is now less used than the more logical "doubt that." But never becomes a full synonym for and; and adds something like, but adds something different; "brave and tender" implies that tenderness is natural to the brave; "brave but tender" implies that bravery and tenderness are rarely combined. For the concessive use, compare NOTWITHSTANDING.

   Synonyms:
   and, barely, besides, but, except, further, however, just, merely, moreover, nevertheless, notwithstanding, notwithstanding, only, provided, save, still, that, tho, yet

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:2.4 / 9 votes

1. unlessconj.

   Synonyms:
   except, if not

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:4.5 / 2 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "unless":

   except, if, without, until, -unless

How to pronounce unless?

How to say unless in sign language?

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How to use unless in a sentence?

1. Willie Nelson:

   I don’t think you can really make a statement like that unless you tried it all, so I’d like to suggest to Jeff to try it and then let me know later if he thinks he’s still telling the truth!

2. Chris Williamson:

   Companies are citing greater uncertainty about the outlook, especially in export markets, leading to some scaling back of expansion plans and a greater reluctance for customers to place orders compared to earlier in the year, which suggests a slowdown could become more entrenched unless demand revives.

3. A.E. Samaan:

   Nowhere in the Bill of Rights are the words unless inconvenient to be found.

4. Harry S Truman:

   You can't get rich in politics unless you're a crook.

5. Simon Lewis:

   And they start crying, and they start realizing that, 'I'm not going to get bombed.' It's hard to put it into a context of words that would have any meaning unless you've seen it with your own eyes.