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

Another, somewhat bizarre experiment has raised the prospect of a different antiaging strategy. — Venki Ramakrishnan, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026

There, the women are asked to participate in a bizarre dating show hosted by a man named Chris Mark. — Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026

On an otherwise quiet Wednesday evening at Riyadh Boulevard, a sort of Times Square-meets-seaside-funfair, a bizarre experiment in the future of Gen Alpha entertainment was underway. — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Like Rick Nelson’s fools, the Zellners also rush in where angels fear to tread, and their love for the bizarre, the cool and the crazy is, like the epidemic of emotions facing the Alpha Gang, wildly infectious. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026