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eccentric

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word eccentric distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of eccentric are erratic, odd, outlandish, peculiar, quaint, singular, strange, and unique. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

When is erratic a more appropriate choice than eccentric?

While the synonyms erratic and eccentric are close in meaning, erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

When is it sensible to use odd instead of eccentric?

While in some cases nearly identical to eccentric, odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

Where would outlandish be a reasonable alternative to eccentric?

Although the words outlandish and eccentric have much in common, outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

When could peculiar be used to replace eccentric?

The meanings of peculiar and eccentric largely overlap; however, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

In what contexts can quaint take the place of eccentric?

In some situations, the words quaint and eccentric are roughly equivalent. However, quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

When can singular be used instead of eccentric?

The words singular and eccentric can be used in similar contexts, but singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

When would strange be a good substitute for eccentric?

The words strange and eccentric are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

When might unique be a better fit than eccentric?

The synonyms unique and eccentric are sometimes interchangeable, but unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel.

a career unique in the annals of science

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 eccentric
Adjective
What follows is one wild, sweltering summer day and night in their East Village tenement, as the two scheme with a crew of eccentric neighbors to cover up a dead body. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 23 Oct. 2025 Their personas could be withholding, eccentric, neurotic, ambiguous, strange. Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
From new names to beloved characters like Nikola Tesla, Baron dives into the scientists and eccentrics who shaped Mars' legendary status and why our planetary neighbor continues to be a vessel for our biggest hopes to this day. Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 9 Aug. 2025 Appealing to consumers searching for a piece of history, the store has gained a following of visitors hunting for unique souvenirs, designers on inspiration trips and local eccentrics. Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 6 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for eccentric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eccentric
Adjective
  • As travelers crave experiences over ordinary stays, hotels that have transformed grim to glam are now embracing their bizarre and sometimes haunted histories, even hosting weddings and wellness retreats.
    Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
  • But things take a bizarre turn when her son, Simón (Roger Príncep), goes missing.
    Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In books and movies, though, versions of amnesia lurk everywhere … Amnesiacs might not much exist, but amnesiac characters stumble everywhere through comic books, movies, and our dreams.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Other new characters joining the mix are Malcolm’s girlfriend, Tristan (Kiana Madeira) and his daughter, Leah (Keeley Karsten).
    Selome Hailu, Variety, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Silver Bullet The idea of league partners doing journalism is always a strange subject.
    Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Years later, now a lawyer, Andi wins a radio contest where the host, Jake (Romaine Waite), turns the story of the sleigh bell and stranger into a segment, as listeners help track down her mystery man before Christmas.
    Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Keaton continued to play oddballs with a peculiar way of talking, though none were trivial or stupid.
    Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Sometimes explaining one’s affinity for a specific Pokémon is difficult; since Satoshi Tajiri has been dreaming up these pet-warrior-oddballs, many have historically had a certain je ne sais quoi.
    Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Kristen Bell and her husband Dax Shepard are known to be funny, but one joke has kept them in the public eye all week.
    Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
  • The film is also possibly Reichardt’s funniest thus far.
    Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The 2022 Sequel Texas Chainsaw Massacre Set in the modern day, this 2022 Netflix movie is (another) direct sequel to the original, ignoring every film that comes between.
    Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
  • But sometimes its just great to come back to the original.
    Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Constraints give creative energy a direction to travel, shaping the search space while also confining it — just enough that exploration becomes deeper, weirder, and more productive.
    Big Think, Big Think, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Until then, things will get very weird, very fast.
    Victor Riparbelli, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Some of the best collaborations ahead will come from unexpected DMs and late-night debates with your fellow weirdos.
    Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Made mostly of muscle without a bone in their bodies, these wonderful weirdos can squeeze into spaces scarcely bigger than their eyeballs.
    Kate Siber, Outside, 21 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Eccentric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eccentric. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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