ECCENTRIC Synonyms: 144 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

eccentric 1 of 2

adjective

ik-ˈsen-trik

Definition of eccentric

as in bizarre

different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion his eccentric decorating style isn't going over well with the neighbors

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

eccentric

2 of 2

noun

as in character

a person of odd or whimsical habits an eccentric who designed his house to look like a Scottish castle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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

For just as long, critics have ripped into his eccentric on-stage persona; still, Thompson has enjoyed one of the longest-running residencies in Las Vegas, playing shows at the Luxor Hotel & Casino. — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026 Douglas Booth has, admittedly, always been drawn to rather eccentric characters. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026

Noun

The eccentric cuz is quick to try and help Bobby solve problems, which often gets him into trouble, but ultimately pushes him out of his shell. — Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 20 June 2026 Inbred eccentrics and bumbling detectives have populated the seaside villages of Bruno Dumont’s absurdist comedies. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for eccentric

Recent Examples of Synonyms for eccentric

Adjective

Appropriated from a John Cale album, the title accurately describes scenes of bloodletting committed by bizarre, scenery-chewing yakuza members, and the energy hovers somewhere around a bloodier-than-baseline Takashi Miike movie from the mid-2000s.

— Vadim Rizov, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
Her family and church life remained opaque, but her bizarre comedic timing and magnetic onscreen presence turned her into everyone’s favorite reality-TV anti-hero.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of bizarre

Noun

Grande’s character was killed off in the first season, and the series was canceled after two seasons.

— Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026
Their characters contended with sexism, inflexible schedules, unequal pay and the near impossibility of balancing work with responsibilities at home.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of character

Adjective

In a small town, several dead people are brought back to life through a strange ritual involving burning duck manure.

— Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
Back outside, the strangest part of the scene might have been how normal everything seemed to the people wearing crimson and blue.

— Taylor Eldridge, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of strange

Noun

Germany’s leading indie fest has long made a specialty of outsiders and oddballs — artists who arrived without pedigree, training programs or an obvious industry slot and built the career anyway.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026
Link shifts from a charming oddball as Whatsit to a sinister figure on the planet of Camazotz.

— Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of oddball

Adjective

And that is a very funny, exploitable premise on its surface.

— Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
On Standby follows Sagit, a 33-year-old airport security screener whose brutally honest view of the world and chaotic personal life turn even the most ordinary interactions into painfully funny disasters.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of funny

Noun

Al Marri suggested in her announcement that the new festival will not be in exactly the same vein as the original, which was known for its glitzy red carpets, industry events, and openness to films pushing the social and political envelope.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026
In his new role Earley will lead strategic development for Disney Entertainment’s TV franchises, as well as content and production for international originals, production, labor relations and creative talent development.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of original

Adjective

Beck was playing a shabby, malnourished musician living in a shack who acts as an emissary of a weird celebrity cult.

— Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
But, in a weird sort of way, that approach advances the point critics have about Williams.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of weird

Noun

How did the weirdo pop-art side project become the go-to vessel for the Great Indie Songwriter?

— Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2026
Since breaking out in the tween-friendly Twilight saga twenty years ago, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson have each transformed themselves into Hollywood’s most arthouse-friendly weirdos.

— Nate Jones, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of weirdo

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“Eccentric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eccentric. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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