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
• crazy
• strange
• fantastic
• fanciful
• ridiculous
• nonsensical
• wild
• weird
• grotesque
• incredible
• peculiar
• preposterous
• curious
• odd
• funny
• off the wall
• unbelievable
• implausible
• eccentric
• inconceivable
• unimaginable
• unthinkable
• extravagant
• surreal
• wacky
• quirky
• ludicrous
• outlandish
• queer
• farcical
• nightmarish
• kinky
• laughable
• quaint
• outré
• screwy
• out-of-the-way
• kooky
• dreamlike
• bizarro
• Alice-in-Wonderland
• far-out
• way-out
• 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
• eccentric
• crazy
• abnormal
• unique
• wacky
• quirky
• off-the-wall
• outlandish
• screwy
• offbeat
• kooky
• wild
• kinky
• quaint
• funky
• outré
• unconventional
• uncommon
• outrageous
• out-of-the-way
• queer
• rare
• bizarro
• extraordinary
• far-out
• way-out
• weirdo
• off-kilter
• cranky
• shocking
• fantastic
• rum
• queerish
• freakish
• outstanding
• freaky
• striking
• aberrant
• spaced-out
• atypical
• noticeable
• freak
• conspicuous
• prominent
• phantasmagoric
• flaky
• notable
• phenomenal
• puzzling
• out-there
• baffling
• perplexing
• idiosyncratic
• singular
• salient
• 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

Americans have been roped even further into this dark, tragic story because of the president’s bizarre equivocation and emotional outbursts about it. —Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2026

Garnett’s pivotal rulings came a day after a 35-year-old Minnesota man was charged with impersonating an FBI agent in an apparent attempt to spring Mangione from federal lockup in Brooklyn in a bizarre episode detailed in court documents. —Adam Reiss, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026

Yet less bizarre suspicions that the NFL and other sports organizations manipulate games for ratings and/or to protect the sports books that sponsor them are widely held. —Emil Steiner, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026

The bizarre rules and innovative format can trigger a runner’s thirst for racing, and an internal desire to push oneself. —Frederick Dreier, Outside, 30 Jan. 2026