eccentric 1 of 2

eccentric

2 of 2

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
Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Canva Carroll writes with the same playful cadence and eccentric flair that defines her voice, which is undeniably that of a decades-long Elle columnist. Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025 Gerald and his wife Beth were liberal Democrats who kept a circle of eccentric artist friends. Literary Hub, 12 June 2025
Noun
Robert Redford delivers folksy wisdom as a local eccentric who once had his own dragon encounter, and even Karl Urban’s greedy logger is more of a nuisance than an outright villain. Josh Bell, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025 Attracting talent for greater innovation hazards acquiring a few eccentrics whose gifts come wrapped in controversial packaging. Chip Bell, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for eccentric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eccentric
Adjective
  • While most players at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship are battling the Texas heat, slow play, and a demanding Fields Ranch East layout, Leona Maguire is dealing with something far more bizarre—tick bites!
    Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025
  • The Myth Of More A Boston University professor turned the business world on its head back in 2015 by exposing a bizarre truth about productivity in the workplace.
    Drew Gerber, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • Our challenge is to ensure each generation has the opportunity to engage with our stories, characters and life lessons.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 June 2025
  • Early on, he was often cast in Latino character roles on shows like HBO’s The Wire and Fox’s Gang Related.
    Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • This film is set entirely inside a taxi cab that Panahi is driving around Tehran, as different people drift in and out of his car with their own strange and very personal dramas.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 June 2025
  • But one of the strangest well wishes came not from a person, but a 1,400-foot-tall building.
    Stephen Daw, Billboard, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • The lone oddball counter-example was a wild-card Marlins squad that hired a 72-year-old manager at midseason, got hot behind a few stars (Ivan Rodriguez, Josh Beckett, Dontrelle Willis) and benefited from a historic Cubs meltdown to reach the Fall Classic.
    Neil Paine, New York Times, 17 June 2025
  • Where to watch: Max 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' The feel-good British dramedy stars Tom Basden as one half of a formerly famous folk duo hired by an oddball lottery winner (Tim Key) to play a private show on his remote Welsh island.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 14 June 2025
Adjective
  • McGrath's older brother and two of her younger sisters described her as funny, sarcastic, full of life and so caring that the homeless in her neighborhood greeted her by name.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 25 June 2025
  • There’s definitely something funny going on with the Universe.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • A number of features have made their way over from the original into the 2.0.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 June 2025
  • Sitting at the cafeteria tables with the chairs from the original.
    Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Sometimes your audio is all screwed up and echoing, there are weird pauses everywhere, and nothing interesting gets said.
    Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • One of the weirdest parts of getting into long-distance running or triathlons is learning how much endurance athletes love and hate—and rely on—little packets of goo-like gels.
    Jennifer Heimlich, SELF, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • Danan has crafted a loving ode to every weirdo or outsider who made a TV show (or other pop culture franchise) their entire personality.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 19 May 2025
  • An exclusive group of evolutionary weirdos Only a handful of organisms are known to form collective assemblages for the purpose of dispersing, similar to the nematode towers.
    Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 5 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Eccentric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eccentric. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on eccentric

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!