Definition of oddnext
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 On an odd-man rush Dylan Cozens found Greig in the slot. ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026 Bol’s own basket was not the only odd event during the game. Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026 Others do the opposite, and a few keep odd hours. Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026 Entering the Ukrainian town of Izium brings the odd sight of roads and sidewalks completely covered in wide stretches of overhead netting. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 20 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for odd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for odd
Adjective
  • 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
  • University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias told the Washington Examiner the delay is not unusual, pointing to the court’s calendar and procedural pace rather than any single strategic decision.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The strange circumstances of his last weeks have the quality of a nightmare from which the Samsas awake.
    Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
  • But his arrest and conviction in 2024 had been preceded a year earlier by a strange story that appeared in the press and then disappeared almost as quickly.
    K.J. Yossman, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • But with this unusual warmth, Greene warns even that may not be enough.
    Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
  • As Southern California’s unusual March heat wave continues, several daily temperature records were broken across the region on Wednesday, March 18.
    City News Service, Daily News, 19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Mail-only ballot elections are a cheaper, though slightly uncommon, alternative for cities when no candidates are on the ballot, like in the case of the upcoming April 21 election in the City Beautiful, according to Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
  • That kind of thing is not uncommon.
    Stuart James, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Besides the lush vegetation and the occasional passing car, there are no other signs of life.
    Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Skies remain mostly sunny Thursday, March 26, and Friday, March 27, with only occasional clouds or brief showers possible.
    Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Same for Lainey Wilson’s badges-only showcase that failed to fill Stubb’s BBQ.
    Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
  • As Petzold had come to understand, the only way to survive is to build something new.
    Holden Seidlitz, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • But some of the violations are anything but mundane, hiding records that might shed light on some of DeSantis’ most bizarre and offensive stunts.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026
  • This is no small feat, given that real-life Silicon Valley stories often seem too bizarre to be true.
    Marta Balaga, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Basketball awards time During a season in which the individual talent for boys and girls basketball was extraordinary, earning all-star recognition became quite an achievement.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
  • Late Shift follows a single staff member, named Floria and played by the extraordinary German actor Leonie Benesch, in a cancer ward for a tightly wound 90 minutes.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Odd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/odd. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.

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