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as in single
being one of a pair or set without a corresponding mate somehow, there's always at least one odd sock that comes out of the dryer

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word odd distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of odd are eccentric, erratic, outlandish, peculiar, quaint, singular, strange, and unique. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

When can eccentric be used instead of odd?

The words eccentric and odd can be used in similar contexts, but eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

When would erratic be a good substitute for odd?

While the synonyms erratic and odd 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 outlandish instead of odd?

In some situations, the words outlandish and odd are roughly equivalent. However, outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

When is peculiar a more appropriate choice than odd?

While in some cases nearly identical to odd, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

When might quaint be a better fit than odd?

Although the words quaint and odd have much in common, quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

Where would singular be a reasonable alternative to odd?

The meanings of singular and odd largely overlap; however, singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

In what contexts can strange take the place of odd?

The words strange and odd 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 could unique be used to replace odd?

The synonyms unique and odd 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 odd Birthright citizenship is an odd case to use to scale back nationwide injunctions, Justice Elena Kagan said. Mark Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025 A day after the loss, Curry caught up with the media and made an odd comment to reporters after his press conference. Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025 Similar odd transactions occurred with other assets and entities. Martin Shenkman, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 Sources familiar with the interaction found Fetterman’s response odd because Shaheen, as the ranking member, doesn’t determine committee assignments — the Senate Democratic leader does. Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for odd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for odd
Adjective
  • Fragments of a single tooth unearthed in Seven Rivers, Jamaica, in 1999 are the oldest fossil evidence of a ziphodont crocodyliform (a group that includes sebecids) in the Caribbean.
    Ashley Belanger – May 16, ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
  • Eurostar already allows passengers to book a single ticket from London to several Swiss cities, including Geneva, Zurich, and Lausanne.
    Everett Potter, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • The long strange trip is proving to be even longer than anyone thought.
    Marco della Cava, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • Because of this strange clustering, the Atlantic Shark Institute has posted signs around Narragansett alerting beachgoers to be on the lookout.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • In that respect, Alonso is not necessarily unusual.
    Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • If anything seems unusual, trust your instincts and stop the communication immediately.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • Then again, this drought is uncommon for the 22-year-old center fielder.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2025
  • At the time, the method was uncommon in Texas, according to Michelle Johnson, project manager of the William J. Hill Texas Artisans and Artists Archive at the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
    Jacoba Urist, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • With some occasional help from the Rockies, who committed three errors and one big mental mistake, the Padres (24-13) scored in five different innings.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 May 2025
  • Goygol includes 65,000 residents, prim parks, tall pines and occasional Tyrolean architecture.
    Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Moorehead family isn’t the only one left to navigate an unexplainable tragedy.
    Sam Gillette, People.com, 20 May 2025
  • The only choice Hamas has is death or surrender, even if this comes at the cost of the remaining hostages and an even bigger humanitarian catastrophe to more than 2 million Palestinians in the enclave.
    Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • Sinner won a bizarre semifinal in his first tournament back from a three-month doping ban, while Alcaraz triumphed in a sloppy duel.
    Sam Settleman, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • Known for its deluge of gruesome deaths that just get more bizarre with each iteration, Final Destination is now returning for a sixth movie.
    Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Despite these challenges, U.S. nonprofits do extraordinary things.
    Kendra Davenport, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • But what goes unmentioned—what stands in opposition to the siblings’ code of self-optimization and principled bodysurfing—is that their father’s success grew from the soil of an extraordinary season of public investment.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Odd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/odd. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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