uncanny
UK: ʌnˈkæni | US: ʌnˈkæni
adj. strange or mysterious in a way that is unsettling or difficult to explain
adj. surpassing the ordinary or normal; extraordinary
The word "uncanny" originates from the Scots term "canny," meaning "safe, familiar, or skillful," combined with the prefix "un-" (not). "Canny" itself derives from the Old English "cunnan" (to know). Over time, "uncanny" evolved to describe something strangely unfamiliar or unsettlingly extraordinary, blending the sense of "not known" with an eerie quality. The term gained prominence in psychology (e.g., Freud's "uncanny valley") to describe paradoxical feelings of familiarity and strangeness.
The doll's lifelike eyes gave her an uncanny feeling.
His ability to predict events was almost uncanny.
The silence in the abandoned house felt uncanny.
She bore an uncanny resemblance to her grandmother.
The AI's human-like responses were uncanny.