idiosyncrasy

noun

ˌi-dē-ə-ˈsiŋ-krə-sē How to pronounce idiosyncrasy (audio)
Definition of idiosyncrasynext
as in trick
an odd or peculiar habit his only idiosyncrasy is his inveterate wearing of sneakers, even with business suits

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Much of his work has poked at the idiosyncrasies and absurdities of modern business, some of it toeing the line between documentary and fiction. — Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 7 Sep. 2026 There’s no better way to quickly learn a person’s idiosyncrasies than living with them. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 If LRMs can supercharge mathematics research the way AlphaFold did for computational biology, this line of thinking goes, why not embrace them, idiosyncrasies and all, and just verify the results? — John Pavlus, Quanta Magazine, 31 July 2026 Nolan said that Odysseus’ idiosyncrasies were challenging to adapt. — Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for idiosyncrasy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idiosyncrasy
  1. trick
  2. trait
  3. characteristic
  4. quirk
  5. mannerism
  6. peculiarity
  7. eccentricity
  8. habit
Noun
  • Even at the album’s more sedate tempos, gyrofield still delivers the manic intensity that marks their best work, building luscious tension with an arsenal of top-shelf production tricks.
    — Lisle Younger, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Trader Joe’s focaccia, sliced and toasted, will do the trick, or their ciabatta, sliced into small squares.
    — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of trick
Noun
  • Another reveals a family trait or behavior that was unwittingly passed from generation to generation.
    — Gary Barron, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Claude is destined to imitate these human traits and mirror the human examples provided to it, including acting like a colleague or friend.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of trait
Noun
  • Designed by Atelier Invictus and designer Fabio Rotella, the 55-footer introduces a fresh aesthetic but retains all the defining characteristics of the ST550 that debuted at Cannes in 2025.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Supporters said racial profiling is already prohibited and that legal status is determined using standard identification and verification procedures, not subjective characteristics such as the color of someone's skin.
    — Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of characteristic
Noun
  • And also like the fat bears of Katmai, every bear here has their own habits and quirks.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The majority have no chance of making it into the 120-seat Parliament — but a quirk of the Israeli election system ensures that even the most obscure contenders get their moment in the political limelight.
    — Lia Lapidot Aaron Boxerman and Lia Lapidot, New York Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of quirk
Noun
  • The system was trained for over a thousand hours on roughly six thousand images and frames of film and other media in order to replicate Dalí’s facial expressions, body movements, speech patterns, and mannerisms.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
  • And judging by the amount of controversy that’s already been stirred up, Sacha Baron Cohen’s iconic character of a middle-class white Brit appropriating hip-hop and Jamaican mannerisms still has the ability to rile people.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of mannerism
Noun
  • They are retained here as if to underscore the messy peculiarity of the world left behind.
    — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Due to peculiarities of history and tax law, a special district to fund a major project, like a baseball stadium, could be more powerful in West Sacramento than in other cities.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of peculiarity
Noun
  • Many mathematical geniuses have been as celebrated for their eccentricity as for their work.
    — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Content creators have angled to become the food critics of the short-form video era, each with their own schtick or eccentricities.
    — Mia Sato, The Verge, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of eccentricity
Noun
  • She was arrested and charged with second-degree child endangerment after her daughter reportedly arrived at school with sunburns, sparking a media frenzy over Krentcil's extreme tanning habits and parenting.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • YPulse’s reporting on Gen Z shopping habits digs into how younger buyers can treat finding affordable alternatives as a legit shopping achievement.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of habit

Browse Nearby Words

idiosyncrasies
idiosyncrasy
idiosyncratic
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Cite this Entry

“Idiosyncrasy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idiosyncrasy. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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