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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
Known for his eccentric approach to equipment, Faulkner was believed to own over 300 putters in his lifelong search for the perfect one. Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025 And both Lyonne and the series’ creator, Rian Johnson, don’t lack for other projects, including Wake Up Dead Man, the third film in Johnson’s Knives Out series, starring Daniel Craig as eccentric master sleuth Benoit Blanc, due out in December. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 12 July 2025
Noun
To take her mind off him, Agathe meets an Austen-like family of eccentrics running the retreat and the sometimes pretentious writers attending it. Randy Myers, Mercury News, 22 May 2025 But the settlers’ belief in the value of public goods and embrace of independent thinkers remain woven into the character of the city, which continues to attract artists, eccentrics and writers. Isabelle Taft, New York Times, 4 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for eccentric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eccentric
Adjective
  • Some 40 of these bizarre, geochemically-active sub-Neptunes are currently being studied observationally.
    Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • As a result of a bizarre last-minute decision, the nominees in two Emmys categories will be announced Tuesday morning on CBS nearly four hours ahead of the TV Academy’s official nominations announcement, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
    Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • Actor Tom Welling played Ultraman in live-action form on a 2010 episode of Smallville, which introduced the character as Clark Luthor of Earth-Two.
    EW.com, EW.com, 14 July 2025
  • Anchoring Technical And Career Education Recovering the roots of common sense in prudence—practical wisdom—has much to contribute to today’s debates over education, citizenship, and character.
    Bruno V. Manno, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Roman looks for instability in the first stars Perhaps the most exciting cosmic explosion discovery that Roman could make would be the observation of the strange explosive death of the universe's first stars.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 July 2025
  • An airline worker staying a night at a hotel near the airport entered their room, only to realize there was something strange about their view.
    Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
Noun
  • And unlike the oddball carbon-fiber hatchback that was once known by that name, the next-generation electric i3 is set to be an out-and-out sedan.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2025
  • The Annihilation of Fish, directed by Charles Burnett and released in 1999 and now newly restored by Kino Lorber, features an oddball, interracial romance played by the late actors James Earl Jones as Obadiah Fish and Lynn Redgrave as Poinsettia Cummings.
    Armond White, National Review, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • His voice is too funny, too smart and too important to go quietly into the night.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 19 July 2025
  • But a funny thing happened on the way to this flexible-rate nirvana.
    Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
Noun
  • The new lodge sat on the foundation of the former and used many of the original's materials, but was scaled back in its design, removing a second story and observation tower that were part of the original, according to the National Park Service.
    Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 13 July 2025
  • To appreciate the essence of the 911, one really has to go back to the original.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Though country rock at their core, Roadhouse Band songs are flush with woodwinds and pedal steel, weird horns and synthesizers.
    Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2025
  • And that’s exactly the kind of weird the planet needs.
    Heather Wishart-Smith, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Noun
  • But Gunn’s heart is with the weirdos who soldier on.
    Jake Coyle, Mercury News, 10 July 2025
  • Such a part of the Rick experience is the crowd, a band of fashion weirdos clad in Kiss boots, and standing among them in crutches felt natural in this context.
    Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Eccentric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eccentric. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

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