1
as in anomalies
a person, thing, or event that is far from normal
that snowstorm in April was a freak, since our weather is usually much balmier by then
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lovers
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something
I'm a hockey freak
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in whims
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action
suddenly had the bizarre freak to take a road trip across the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in addicts
slang
a person who regularly uses drugs especially illegally
he knew that he'd never get his life in order if he continued to hang out with the crystal meth freaks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 freaks
Here’s hoping that’s not the case, because Arjona looks more than capable of taking out these glowing-eyed freaks all by herself.
—
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 2 June 2026
They were considered to have strange physical afflictions or weak mental attitudes, and some people with endocrine diseases were even dismissed as ‘freaks’ and heckled in circuses or locked away in institutions.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Jocks and mean girls relished in the mainstream, while the freaks and losers huddled over video-game music and alt weirdness.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
The traveling circus show brings acrobats, illusionists, freaks and mysterious creatures inside its black and red tent starting Friday, April 3, and running daily through Monday, April 13.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2026
Life online appears to be neatly divisible, and indeed divided, into freaks on the one hand and, on the other, reasonable people such as yourself.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
Its owners, Eric Finkelstein and Matt Ross, are sandwich freaks in the best possible way; on the shop’s vast menu, not a single sandwich is a dud.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
Not as freaks to be studied from afar, mimicked, and exploited for other people’s creative whims or amusement, but as complex and whole parts of the world worth exploring and celebrating.
—Sarah Kurchak, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 2 June 2026
They were considered to have strange physical afflictions or weak mental attitudes, and some people with endocrine diseases were even dismissed as ‘freaks’ and heckled in circuses or locked away in institutions.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Jocks and mean girls relished in the mainstream, while the freaks and losers huddled over video-game music and alt weirdness.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
The traveling circus show brings acrobats, illusionists, freaks and mysterious creatures inside its black and red tent starting Friday, April 3, and running daily through Monday, April 13.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2026
Life online appears to be neatly divisible, and indeed divided, into freaks on the one hand and, on the other, reasonable people such as yourself.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
Its owners, Eric Finkelstein and Matt Ross, are sandwich freaks in the best possible way; on the shop’s vast menu, not a single sandwich is a dud.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
Not as freaks to be studied from afar, mimicked, and exploited for other people’s creative whims or amusement, but as complex and whole parts of the world worth exploring and celebrating.
—Sarah Kurchak, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for freaks
Noun
-
Advanced machine learning models can analyze supply chain behavior, detect fraud anomalies, optimize liquidity allocation and improve credit assessment for underserved markets lacking traditional credit histories.—
Meelan Gupta,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
When Tarhuni, and his co-panelists CapitalG’s Mo Jomaa and Notable Capital’s Hans Tung, broke it down, the conclusion was that these companies are anomalies.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Soccer fans, cinephiles, and fashion lovers alike will surely be casing the stadium for a glimpse of Expósito, either hoping to confirm the relationship rumors that sparked earlier this year or take notes on what the stylish actor wears to the game.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
14 June 2026
-
But for lovers of remote places and untamed nature, the effort is well worth it.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
In fact, the right-wing media — which is closely tied to the whims of the White House — has been targeting Siebel Newsom for months.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
Democrats have publicly criticized the event, saying the president is spending money on personal whims rather than on the problems Americans are actually facing.—
Suzanne Nuyen,
NPR,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Artificials addicts will try the most offbeat gadgets.—
Byron W. Dalrymple,
Outdoor Life,
4 June 2026
-
My experience, strength, and hope will help addicts find recovery, one day at a time.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
One- or 2-foot-long suckers will produce enough bait chunks for an entire day of fishing.—
Chad Mason,
Outdoor Life,
3 June 2026
-
This revealed that the creature had short arms, few arm suckers, and no ink sac, as well as having very smooth skin and a large rachidian tooth.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Talks would persist for the next two years, often in quiet, until the event that would shatter all notions of complacency toward the Israeli-Palestinian status quo.—
Jennifer Cunningham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Dec. 2025
-
My mother taught literature at a college on Long Island and had notions about where to send me.—
Joan Silber,
New Yorker,
30 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The whole episode is a reminder to product designers everywhere that users can be extremely sensitive to the seemingly smallest changes — and Spotify clearly had not anticipated that a teeny-tiny disco ball drop would prove to be unpopular.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
12 June 2026
-
The study found that most users considered the advice helpful.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
While some fans are packed in a music festival-like atmosphere against the main stage, others have found an empty patch of grass and are enjoying the screens from afar.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
15 June 2026
-
From German dudes discovering Waffle House in the Deep South to Japanese fans experiencing chips and salsa overload in Texas, it's been absolutely beautiful seeing the guests of this great nation being exposed to the best parts of our culture stateside.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Freaks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/freaks. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
