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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 By modern standards, the Miura is a simple machine, and also an odd one in some ways. Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025 More than 63,000 Mecklenburg voters cast ballots during the early period, which county data shows is the most for an odd-year or municipal cycle, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025 The 23-year-old has even been the subject of odd trade speculation ever since, but up until this point, the Browns have decided to keep him aboard. Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025 But my father worked a lot of different odd jobs in order to put food on the table for the family. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for odd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for odd
Adjective
  • Draymond Green grabbed 10 rebounds but recorded just a single assist.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Helicopters are proven, versatile, and can fly for hours on a single tank of fuel.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • But then something strange happened.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • This addictive, loping track is one of the best and strangest songs from the artist’s fifth album.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The novel’s composition is remarkable for the unusual way its eight sections tangentially revolve around the narrator, a West African man named Tunde.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Sabrina Carpenter performed double duty as host and musical guest on the previous episode, which, in an unusual move, kicked off with a non-political cold open.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • From lab to runway Testing in real-world conditions is uncommon for university researchers, but the UA Power Group sees it as essential for progress.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Knowles also created sound works, which frequently centered the bean, an uncommon object in the Fluxus oeuvre.
    News Desk, Artforum, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • There are occasional reminders that the Mafia lingers.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
  • All the pieces seem to fit, producing a symphony of contact and occasional crescendo of slug.
    Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • After a while, sticky notes appear, written by someone else who’s not exactly pleased about the doodler’s defacement of the only astronomy reference work in the school library.
    Caroline Carlson, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
  • So far, the only loud opinion on that side of the ball has come from requests for releases and trades.
    Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • As travelers crave experiences over ordinary stays, hotels that have transformed grim to glam are now embracing their bizarre and sometimes haunted histories, even hosting weddings and wellness retreats.
    Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
  • But things take a bizarre turn when her son, Simón (Roger Príncep), goes missing.
    Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • From inspiring conservation efforts to incredible animal encounters, our wildlife stories bring you closer to the creatures that make our planet extraordinary.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
  • The combination produced extraordinary resolution and texture, but also a fair share of headaches.
    Tiana DeNicola, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Odd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/odd. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

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