IDIOSYNCRASY Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

idiosyncrasy

noun

ˌi-dē-ə-ˈsiŋ-krə-sē

Definition of idiosyncrasy

as in trick

an odd or peculiar habit his only idiosyncrasy is his inveterate wearing of sneakers, even with business suits

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 idiosyncrasy Amid the idiosyncrasies of the project, Berger and Laslett say Propeller One-Way Night Coach marked a continuation of their past work under their Kids at Play banner. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 June 2026 As the title implies, the show trumpets the artist’s idiosyncrasy, which feels ever more at odds with the cultural moment. — Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026 Plowden’s own professional idiosyncrasies included never using a flash — instead favoring available light — and in particular shooting with his Hasselblad camera during the waning light of day. — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026 Although jazz can be powerfully expressive of a composer or musician’s personal idiosyncrasies and attitude (think of Miles Davis or Sun Ra), blues is the domain of raw emotion. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for idiosyncrasy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for idiosyncrasy

Noun

The trick is to widen your view deliberately, one angle at a time, because each new angle surfaces buyers the last one missed.

— Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Now, as heat waves wash over cities from London to Palm Springs, people are embracing this tried-and-true trick with the Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad.

— Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026

Definition of trick

Noun

Still, the pieces of ceiling trim dedicated to the pillars of courage and trust remained missing, a nod perhaps to the traits most easily lost when disaster strikes – and most needed to rebuild.

— Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
The American Culture Quiz is a weekly test of our unique national traits, trends, history and people — including current events and the sights and sounds of the United States.

— Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026

Definition of trait

Noun

The company specializes in flight controls engineering, simulation, and aircraft systems that help engineers validate handling characteristics before flight testing begins.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026
Some characteristics can, however, be defined as on the whole necessary for any beach and any mood.

— Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of characteristic

Noun

Thorpe’s characters are so specific, their balance of prickliness and kindness and quirk so delicate, that one wrong casting choice could ruin the whole viewing experience.

— Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026
Name Recall This is one of those areas where forgetfulness quickly goes from being a charming quirk to potentially offensive—an especially perilous hazard for a CEO.

— Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of quirk

Noun

While Minetree delivers a charming performance, capturing Elle's bubbly optimism and mannerisms, the show largely fails to add meaningful depth and truly enrich one of pop culture's most enduring heroines.

— Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Instead, Nowell roots the band’s sound in the mid-’90s and keeps his vocal mannerisms as close to Bradley’s as possible.

— Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 15 June 2026

Definition of mannerism

Noun

The subject does not have a lot of hard-and-fast rules; wars share common characteristics but each conflict has its own peculiarities and exigent circumstances.

— Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
If the job of a debut album is to introduce an artist to the world, while a sophomore album reinforces their reputation, then a third album offers a channel for artists to expand beyond the familiar tricks and peculiarities that shot them to fame in the first place.

— Chelsey Sanchez, CNN Money, 25 June 2026

Definition of peculiarity

Noun

An American expat who has fully embraced British eccentricity and emotional opacity, Kimi Murdoch could be a Toni Collette character.

— Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026
But eccentricity is only the visible tip of the vast iceberg of Vibeke’s mental health issues, and soon Karl and Rikke are conferring in low whispers about whether, and when, to slip some ground-up sleeping pills into her drink.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 7 July 2026

Definition of eccentricity

Browse Nearby Words

idiosyncrasies

idiosyncrasy

idiosyncratic

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Idiosyncrasy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idiosyncrasy. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of idiosyncrasy

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on idiosyncrasy

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fulcrum

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes