oddity

noun

ˈä-də-tē How to pronounce oddity (audio)
Definition of odditynext
1
as in trick
an odd or peculiar habit his one oddity is collecting used pencil leads

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2
as in rarity
something strange or unusual that is an object of interest years ago circus sideshows used to display people with unusual physical features as oddities

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3
as in anomaly
something that is different from what is ordinary or expected she is an oddity in that, unlike her sisters, she avoids social media

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4
as in eccentric
a person of odd or whimsical habits an oddity with a penchant for weaving cat fur

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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 oddity The temptation, when considering the tech founder, is to confuse his oddity for genius. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 This is the element that likely caused more confusion, due the oddity of the Tunisia goalkeeper not being in his own half at the time of the incident. — Colin Millar, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 Many directors now synonymous with the genre — John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Tobe Hooper, David Cronenberg, Sam Raimi — started out with small, regional oddities. — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026 Maybe in little dribs or drabs here and there, but as some oddity on the margins of Silicon Valley society. — Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for oddity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oddity
  1. trick
  2. rarity
  3. anomaly
  4. eccentric
  5. quirk
  6. exception
  7. character
  8. trait
Noun
  • Tickets for the children’s museum’s trick-or-treat morning cost $3 per person aged 1 and older, and members may attend for free.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • More Life Kit on home organization 5 clever design tricks to make a small home look bigger.
    — Andee Tagle, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of trick
Noun
  • Bryant’s size 14 pair is not only game-worn, but autographed on both the left and right shoe, which is somewhat of a rarity in the autographed memorabilia space.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The six gems have not been treated or enhanced, a rarity in the market, per Julian’s, and each has been certified and authenticated by the American Gemological Laboratories.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of rarity
Noun
  • According to the report, the anomaly was first detected during an engine acceptance test shortly before the start of summer.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Other possible uses include detecting weak magnetic signals from the heart and muscles, improving navigation, and spotting underground magnetic anomalies.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of anomaly
Noun
  • Step inside, though, and you’re transported to a bucolic Britain of rolling hills and village greens, bumbling eccentrics and cute, clever farm animals.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The professionalization worked, but at the expense of the site’s internal culture, Cooke argues, as generous eccentrics were displaced by neurotic lovers of rules.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of eccentric
Noun
  • Rather than reinventing the concept, Sigma seems focused on fixing the quirks that made the original a tough sell for many shooters.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In the new film, as in his previous work, Fielder uses actors to play out real scenarios, and leans on his own dry, bluntly awkward persona to bring out his subjects’ quirks and oddities.
    — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of quirk
Noun
  • Miscarriage, complex cases are rarely ‘certain’ The lack of exceptions in Idaho’s current law has been a major concern in providing miscarriage care, doctors said.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The exception was 2024, when Zilker Park had the most burglaries with 201, the highest annual count recorded near that park during the six-year period.
    — Data Reporter, Austin American Statesman, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of exception
Noun
  • It was approved by voters into the county charter in 2004 in an effort to preserve the area’s rural character and prevent high-density sprawl from stretching toward the Brevard County line.
    — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
  • These private, elevated spaces so intrinsic to the character of the property will remain closed to the public while management seeks a practical solution.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of character
Noun
  • The traits rewarded in high-performing individual contributors—like decisiveness, high output, competitive drive—are not necessarily the same traits that make an effective manager.
    — Miriam Groom, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Like Saban, Smart demands physicality, instills competitiveness and obsesses over details — traits Sumrall values, too.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of trait

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oddities
oddity
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Cite this Entry

“Oddity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oddity. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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