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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
The historic property was once home to eccentric heiress Rebekah Harkness, whom Swift immortalized in her 2020 track The Last Great American Dynasty. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 2 May 2025 The actor, who reprised his The Amazing Spider-Man role of Dr. Curt Connors in Spider-Man: No Way Home, played the eccentric Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1. Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 2 May 2025
Noun
Attracting talent for greater innovation hazards acquiring a few eccentrics whose gifts come wrapped in controversial packaging. Chip Bell, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025 Taught by a new-agey eccentric (Gaby Hoffman, elevating a stereotypical part), the class introduces Lauren to aspiring young actors from all walks of life. Tomris Laffly, Variety, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for eccentric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eccentric
Adjective
  • Sinner won a bizarre semifinal in his first tournament back from a three-month doping ban, while Alcaraz triumphed in a sloppy duel.
    Sam Settleman, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • Known for its deluge of gruesome deaths that just get more bizarre with each iteration, Final Destination is now returning for a sixth movie.
    Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Series regular Tony Todd, who died last fall, returns for a touching posthumous scene that references another fan favorite character.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • Filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Ms. Marvel) will direct Ridley, whose character will come back to the big screen now as a Jedi master in a film set 15 years after the events of 2019's The Rise of Skywalker.
    Mekishana Pierre Published, EW.com, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • From the window of his 46th-floor downtown office, attorney Scott Sheftall noticed a strange, solitary cloud that worried him.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 10 May 2025
  • Although strange, anachronistic, and exaggerated, this world still seems to reflect the same daily problems that all people endure.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • Similarly to her dad, Abby tries to bring order to her crew of oddballs and cynics, most notably former night court prosecutor Dan Fielding (John Larroquette), a character from the original series.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 May 2025
  • Both Lennox and Sarah Lind, as Alex’s wife, Sam, are serious and convincing, and the musician David Yow, as an oddball private detective following in Alex’s wake, gives the movie some idiosyncratic flair.
    Calum Marsh, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • That’s not to say the film isn’t funny or sweet, but that there is something much more profound and uncomfortable at its heart, and one that poses a tricky challenge for first-time filmmakers Johansson and Kamen.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 May 2025
  • His translation recognizes, here and throughout, that the original is funny and compelling enough not to need elaborate explanation, even 60 years after its debut.
    Lily Meyer, The Dial, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • Francis Lawrence will direct the film after helming every movie in the series except the 2012 original.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • Those originals are now on Max and Warrior even aired a third season there, but Max programming definitely has not aligned with Cinemax programming.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • In this instance there was a weird misunderstanding about which some of the people on the WGA Board chose to assume the worst.
    Gene Maddaus, Variety, 10 May 2025
  • My 16-year-old daughter and I have been searching for self-tanners that actually look natural, not orange, and don’t leave behind weird patches, streaks, or smells on our skin or clothes.
    Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • The Philly drill weirdo pushes the hushed, faded-out flows Ot7Quanny and NR Boor have tinkered with to the brink, rapping like a vengeful mummy back from the afterlife.
    Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 9 May 2025
  • To craft a weirdo strong enough to anchor the otherwise feather-light film, Hess and Heder treated the alchemy of acting like a true science, making each choice with precision.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Eccentric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eccentric. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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