1
as in bizarre
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion
the night watchman calls the police if he notices any out-of-the-way activity taking place during his shift
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unusual
noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced
there was nothing out-of-the-way about the hitchhiker's appearance that might arouse suspicion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
out of the way
2 of 2phrase
1
as in up
brought or having come to an end
Now that we've got the first step out of the way it's time to start phase two.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
They hoped he wouldn't say anything out of the way at the party.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 out-of-the-way
Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2024
Besides the occasional random spider that scuttles indoors, some spiders can live in out-of-the-way spots in your home, such as along ceilings or in basements and behind clutter.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 Dec. 2024
Meanwhile, Ojibwe chef Bryce Stevenson, a key figure in the Indigenous Food Sovereignty movement and a 2024 James Beard Award semifinalist, took a big gamble in 2023 by choosing his out-of-the-way home turf as the location for a high-concept restaurant, Miijim.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 20 Nov. 2024
Listen to this article A search and rescue team extricated a missing woman from a storm drain near the San Diego-Poway border Monday after a hunt for her led police detectives to the out-of-the-way spot, fire officials said.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for out-of-the-way
Adjective
Make a brush pile in an out-of-the-way spot in the yard with trimmed branches where birds can find shelter.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2024
Besides the occasional random spider that scuttles indoors, some spiders can live in out-of-the-way spots in your home, such as along ceilings or in basements and behind clutter.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 Dec. 2024
Meanwhile, Ojibwe chef Bryce Stevenson, a key figure in the Indigenous Food Sovereignty movement and a 2024 James Beard Award semifinalist, took a big gamble in 2023 by choosing his out-of-the-way home turf as the location for a high-concept restaurant, Miijim.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 20 Nov. 2024
Listen to this article A search and rescue team extricated a missing woman from a storm drain near the San Diego-Poway border Monday after a hunt for her led police detectives to the out-of-the-way spot, fire officials said.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for out-of-the-way
Recent Examples of Synonyms for out-of-the-way
Adjective
-
The presentation starts with teaching the compliment sandwich technique, but quickly goes off the rails as the participants ask more bizarre questions.—
Rosa Escandon,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
-
Heti’s writing is witty, reflective, and just bizarre enough to capture your interest even as people mill about in your peripheral vision.—
Bekah Waalkes,
The Atlantic,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
But many don't realize there are lots of other, more unusual ways allergies can show up.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
2 May 2025
-
That’s not unusual, for people to send spritzes, but then the manager came out with a gift bag.—
Seija Rankin,
HollywoodReporter,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
And the misfortune is in our participation in that strange loop.—
Akilah Sailers,
Essence,
28 Apr. 2025
-
The wish is revealing—strange and sad, and haunting in ways the biography cannot quite accommodate.—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Parrots are not an uncommon bird species — there are about 400 types of parrots that currently roam the Earth’s land and skies.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
-
Hudson will try to win a beauty pageant in her home state of Maine, and will face an uncommon opponent Hudson will be competing in the Miss Maine USA Beauty Pageant later this month after finishing as the first runner-up in last year’s contest.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
It’s been a weird year for some of the league’s best closers.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
-
On the other hand, this three-month gap is a little weird.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
What’s funny about that is that Alexander appears to have some Leonard Williams to his game.—
Charlotte Carroll,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
-
What started out curious is going to curiouser — funny, violent and wild.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
By the mid-Seventies, Walker was working odd jobs and soon started playing with the gospel group, the Spiritual Corinthians.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
2 May 2025
-
Members of Pavement take part in these events, interacting with the actors who play them, attending the exhibit with an odd and unnatural sense of nostalgic wonder, and participating in a post-screening Q. & A., moderated by the real-life film programmer Jake Perlin.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
Ava has severe cognitive impairment and a rare form of epilepsy.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Celebrating the 260th anniversary of Baccarat, the drink was served in two rare 1937 Baccarat crystal glasses created for the 1937 International Exhibition of Arts and Techniques in Modern Life in Paris.—
Irene S. Levine,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Out-of-the-way.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/out-of-the-way. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share