bizarre

1 of 2

adjective

bi·​zarre bə-ˈzär 

: strikingly out of the ordinary: such as

a

: odd, extravagant, or eccentric in style or mode

His behavior was bizarre.

bizarre stories

a bizarre outfit

b

: involving sensational contrasts or incongruities

the bizarre timidity of a tall, strapping young man

bizarrely adverb

bizarreness noun

bizarreness

2 of 2

noun

bi·​zarre·​ness

bə-ˈzär-nəs

plural -es

: the quality or state of being bizarre

Synonyms of bizarre

Adjective

• absurd
• insane
• foolish
• unreal
• crazy
• strange

Choose the Right Synonym for bizarre

fantastic, bizarre, grotesque mean conceived, made, or carried out without adherence to truth or reality.

fantastic may connote extravagance in conception or ingenuity of decorative invention.

dreamed up fantastic rumors

bizarre applies to the sensationally strange and implies violence of contrast or incongruity of combination.

a bizarre medieval castle in the heart of a modern city

grotesque may apply to what is conventionally ugly but artistically effective or it may connote ludicrous awkwardness or incongruity often with sinister or tragic overtones.

grotesque statues on the cathedral

though grieving, she made a grotesque attempt at a smile

Examples of bizarre in a Sentence

Adjective

I just heard the most bizarre story.

She wore a bizarre outfit.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Without revealing too much, this structure from al-Mansour and co-writer Brad Niemann ends up having a roundabout reason too, given a bizarre third-act twist that renders moot the film’s entire point of view, along with its central themes. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 8 June 2026

That seems like a bizarre reading to me. —Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

Then, to make the situation more bizarre, Arnaldi and Cobolli held a press conference together in the same room despite the former being sick and the latter being two days away from playing in a Grand Slam final. —Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 7 June 2026

The astronauts reported bizarre smells, and had issues flushing urine outside the spacecraft as designed. —New Atlas, 6 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French, from Italian bizzarro

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1648, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bizarre

• adar
• afar
• ajar
• alar
• alvar
• bazaar
• boxcar
• boyar
• bulbar
• cachar
• cigar
• crossbar

Kids Definition

bizarre

adjective

bi·​zarre

bə-ˈzär

: strikingly unusual or odd : fantastic

bizarrely adverb

bizarreness noun