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Synonym Chooser

How is the word erratic distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of erratic are eccentric, odd, outlandish, peculiar, quaint, singular, strange, and unique. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

When is eccentric a more appropriate choice than erratic?

The words eccentric and erratic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

When can odd be used instead of erratic?

The meanings of odd and erratic largely overlap; however, odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

When could outlandish be used to replace erratic?

The words outlandish and erratic can be used in similar contexts, but outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

Where would peculiar be a reasonable alternative to erratic?

Although the words peculiar and erratic have much in common, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

In what contexts can quaint take the place of erratic?

While in some cases nearly identical to erratic, quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

When might singular be a better fit than erratic?

In some situations, the words singular and erratic are roughly equivalent. However, singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

When would strange be a good substitute for erratic?

While the synonyms strange and erratic are close in meaning, strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

When is it sensible to use unique instead of erratic?

The synonyms unique and erratic 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 erratic But her demeanor was erratic—tense one day, overly accommodating the next. Tinna Jackson, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025 Sheila could see that the workflow was erratic, and the costs in people’s time and the institute’s money were too high. Nelson P. Repenning, Big Think, 26 Aug. 2025 After relocating to Southern California in 1986, Erik's behavior became more erratic. Amanda Castro hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025 And as climate change brings more erratic and extreme weather, the vineyard is well positioned. Emma John, AFAR Media, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for erratic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for erratic
Adjective
  • The bookstore idea came from a random day at her local coffee shop and an empty stall in the strip mall.
    Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
  • During a random search of the area, two officers accidentally stumble on a member of the gang posing as a municipal worker in a high-viz boiler suit.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Silksong was first announced in 2019, and after sporadic details and development promises, the DLC turned full release was given a formal release date just two weeks ago — causing mayhem like the Eras Tour movie for other game releases.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Their appearance is sporadic and unpredictable.
    Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But upon Bennet’s arrival, things take a turn for the bizarre, when the wealthy tycoon builds himself a prison cell in the basement, in an apparent act of meditative penance that forces Blakey into an inversion of traditional power dynamics.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Tasked with bringing into reality those that are a little further down on the bizarre end of the spectrum, the show’s prosthetics and VFX teams had their work cut out for them.
    Lisa de los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The result was a mile-long line that turned scattered craftwork into synchronized production.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2025
  • More likely, a supernova occurs inside a galaxy loaded with numerous, scattered clouds of gas and dust.
    Phil Plait, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The boats offer a low-effort way to spy on some of the coolest marine life in the region, including bat rays and even the occasional shark.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
  • By night, Criel entertains guests for intimate dinners — and the occasional artistic performance.
    Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Even when Clark returned, her performance was uneven.
    Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • This helps smooth out fingerprints or uneven spots, giving the frame a more professional look.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Because something very strange happens here.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Probably not, given the company’s strange hesitance to part ways with its current leadership.
    Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Specifically, the temporally thin nature of classical digital computation — one state after another, with the inter-state time interval being totally arbitrary — seems fundamentally incompatible with the nature of consciousness as a richly dynamical process.
    Anil Seth, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Ten sacks is an arbitrary benchmark, but nearly every other team has had at least one edge rusher — either a defensive end or outside linebacker — hit that mark.
    Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Erratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/erratic. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

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