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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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 There is the odd dissenting voice, as there should be. Duncan Alexander, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026 Some people may think Atlanta's renowned Oakland Cemetery would be an odd place for a book shop on wheels. Bo Evans, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026 To a casual observer, the move might have looked a little odd. Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026 By the second half of the twentieth century, media depictions of bicycles often showed them as something exclusively for children, or for odd, childish adults. Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for odd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for odd
Adjective
  • Instead of a single physical server, HostArmada provides dedicated resources on a redundant cloud platform, meaning your data is synced across a high-speed SSD network.
    Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 8 Mar. 2026
  • This is suggested by the fact that married men live longer than single men.
    Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • It’s been a strange season in City Section soccer, with six schools removed from the playoffs for using ineligible players, most of whom played for club teams while also playing tor their high school team, in violation of CIF bylaw 600.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
  • For now, Moltbook remains a strange but revealing glimpse into how AI agents might interact in the future.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Ice cream, water fights, kind people who aren’t weird and don’t smell unusual.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Friday, an unusual time for such events on the island.
    Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Kiwis moving abroad is not uncommon, and more Kiwis generally are choosing to leave than before; in the year ending November 2025, almost 122,000 people emigrated, a 4% jump from the previous year and higher than a previous spike in 2012.
    Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Shows that can last eight hours or more, with maybe a dozen bands playing aren’t uncommon.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • This is in contrast to assurances from local officials that people are safe and life can carry on as normal — albeit with occasional missile alerts and widespread school closures.
    Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 12 Mar. 2026
  • This tournament works here because this city does not treat international baseball as an occasional event.
    Noah Gulley, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • An Israeli strike also hit in the vicinity of Lebanon's only public university, killing a professor and the director of the science faculty at the campus in Hadath, on the outskirts of Beirut's southern suburbs.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
  • The Cowboys will be hoping for a turnaround for a defense that was the only unit in the NFL to yield an average 30 or more points per game.
    Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The eccentric cast of characters around him match his energy nicely, particularly McGinley's genuinely bizarre Walter, whose manic energy is a frequent source of humor.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Sometimes football throws up these bizarre twists of fate.
    Chris McKenna, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Every accommodation includes distinct furnishings, finishes, and wall coverings seemingly designed around the extraordinary bed at the center of it all.
    Kathryn Romeyn, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Force majeure is a legal maneuver that can allow a company to suspend contractual obligations amid extraordinary events.
    NPR Staff, NPR, 9 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Odd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/odd. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.

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