Synonyms of bizarre

bizarre

adjective

bə-ˈzär 

1

as in absurd

conceived or made without regard for reason or reality

a bizarre invention that no one could figure out how to use

Synonyms & Similar Words

• absurd
• insane
• foolish
• unreal
• fantastical
• crazy
• strange
• fantastic
• ridiculous
• fanciful
• nonsensical
• weird
• grotesque
• incredible
• peculiar
• wild
• curious
• preposterous
• odd
• funny
• off the wall
• unbelievable
• implausible
• eccentric
• inconceivable
• unimaginable
• unthinkable
• extravagant
• surreal
• wacky
• quirky
• ludicrous
• outlandish
• screwy
• queer
• kooky
• whacky
• farcical
• nightmarish
• kinky
• laughable
• quaint
• outré
• out-of-the-way
• bizarro
• dreamlike
• Alice-in-Wonderland
• far-out
• way-out
• kookie
• Kafkaesque
• queerish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reasonable
• realistic

2

as in strange

different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion

he gave a bizarre excuse for getting home so late

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strange
• weird
• odd
• funny
• peculiar
• curious
• erratic
• remarkable
• unusual
• crazy
• eccentric
• abnormal
• unique
• wacky
• quirky
• off-the-wall
• outlandish
• screwy
• offbeat
• kooky
• whacky
• fantastical
• kinky
• quaint
• funky
• wild
• outré
• unconventional
• uncommon
• outrageous
• way-out
• out-of-the-way
• rare
• queer
• bizarro
• extraordinary
• far-out
• weirdo
• off-kilter
• shocking
• kookie
• cranky
• fantastic
• rum
• queerish
• freakish
• freaky
• outstanding
• striking
• aberrant
• spaced-out
• atypical
• noticeable
• freak
• conspicuous
• phantasmagoric
• flaky
• prominent
• notable
• phenomenal
• puzzling
• out-there
• baffling
• perplexing
• idiosyncratic
• phantasmagorical
• salient
• singular
• unwonted
• bewildering
• unorthodox
• atrocious
• mystifying
• confounding
• uncustomary
• nonconformist
• addlepated
• crotchety
• nonmainstream

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• normal
• typical
• usual
• ordinary
• standard
• commonplace
• average
• prosaic
• routine
• everyday
• garden
• conventional
• unremarkable
• conservative
• familiar
• unexceptional
• predictable
• run-of-the-mill
• common
• workaday
• frequent
• regular
• expected
• customary
• conformist
• habitual
• knee-jerk
• wonted

Synonym Chooser

How is the word bizarre different from other adjectives like it?

The words fantastic and grotesque are common synonyms of bizarre. While all three words mean "conceived, made, or carried out without adherence to truth or reality," 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

When can fantastic be used instead of bizarre?

While the synonyms fantastic and bizarre are close in meaning, fantastic may connote extravagance in conception or ingenuity of decorative invention.

dreamed up fantastic rumors

When might grotesque be a better fit than bizarre?

Although the words grotesque and bizarre have much in common, 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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bizarre

By Emily Bazelon The novelist anticipated our bizarre present. —Astead W. Herndon Astead W. Herndon Emily Bazelon Parul Sehgal Andrew Ross Sorkin Kwame Anthony Appiah Lisa Donovan Julian Brave Noisecat John Hodgman, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025

This one’s not particularly bizarre, honestly. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025

And so, that’s what is maybe bizarre and without maybe a certain precedent in film. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025

The bizarre process has a purpose beyond giving you goosebumps. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 Oct. 2025