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as in single
being one of a pair or set without a corresponding mate somehow, there's always at least one odd sock that comes out of the dryer

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word odd distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of odd are eccentric, erratic, outlandish, peculiar, quaint, singular, strange, and unique. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

When can eccentric be used instead of odd?

The words eccentric and odd can be used in similar contexts, but eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

When would erratic be a good substitute for odd?

While the synonyms erratic and odd are close in meaning, erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

When is it sensible to use outlandish instead of odd?

In some situations, the words outlandish and odd are roughly equivalent. However, outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

When is peculiar a more appropriate choice than odd?

While in some cases nearly identical to odd, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

When might quaint be a better fit than odd?

Although the words quaint and odd have much in common, quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

Where would singular be a reasonable alternative to odd?

The meanings of singular and odd largely overlap; however, singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

In what contexts can strange take the place of odd?

The words strange and odd are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

When could unique be used to replace odd?

The synonyms unique and odd are sometimes interchangeable, but unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel.

a career unique in the annals of science

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of odd The discovery of the most distant odd radio circle to date lets researchers effectively look back in time. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025 If the address looks odd, misspelled or unrelated to the company, skip it. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025 As a writer Susan Orlean reigns over the quirky, the odd, the overlooked. Samantha Dunn, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025 Any guilty pleasures or odd habits? Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for odd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for odd
Adjective
  • This faux Dunhill Fir is designed to look and feel like a tree plucked straight off the lot, without the single-season lifespan or mess of shedding needles.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
  • However, Daulton Varsho, who has been another clutch Blue Jays hitter throughout the postseason, smacked a single to center to score Springer to knot the game at one apiece.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Thomas Wentworth Higginson spent his leisure time writing down the strange new lyrics in his journal.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The place was a dump, with paint chipping from the ceilings, floors slanted at strange angles, rodent droppings situated along the floorboards, and paper-thin walls that welcomed in bitter winter air.
    Jeff Pearlman, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The shake-up leaves an unusual number of spots open on the party’s Central Committee, which began its term in 2022 with 205 members and 171 non-voting alternates.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Moose Jaw was actually unusual for its welcoming of Chinese immigrants, no small achievement in the often violently racist response to Asian immigrants to North America.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • While factory closures have not been uncommon over the past year, BGMEA officials say the industry is facing mounting pressures.
    Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Unlike Major League Baseball, fire sales are highly uncommon in the NFL when teams fall out of playoff contention.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • While some may view it as extravagant goods and high-end services, others see it as occasional splurges, unique experiences and good health.
    Maddie McGay, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Daily and nightly tours now offer visitors its complex history, along with an occasional paranormal scare.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The only surefire way to avoid this modern-day traveler's burnout is by taking the path less traveled.
    Travel + Leisure, Travel + Leisure, 21 Oct. 2025
  • But the Kirk commentary isn't the only potential source of the downward turn.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In the film, Credenza runs the bizarre amusement park of Twitlandia alongside her husband — delighting in dirty pranks, filth and cruelty along the way.
    Jane LaCroix, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • However, an anonymous NFL general manager has urged the team to target a bizarre position instead.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Friday's purge reduces to just four the number of men serving on the Central Military Commission (CMC), including Xi – an extraordinary concentration of power, according to analysts.
    Deirdre Kirsten Tatlow, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
  • The Diet convened for an extraordinary session to elect Takaichi, who took over after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned with his cabinet earlier in the morning.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 21 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Odd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/odd. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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