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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 Lee’s mother worked odd jobs to help provide for her siblings. Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 There’s an episode where the family is on a picnic, and the animals start doing odd things. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 1 Sep. 2025 Despite the odd breaks in the game, Nakase credited the crowd for keeping the energy high. Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 1 Sep. 2025 There are a lot of odd airport jobs. Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for odd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for odd
Adjective
  • Customers can purchase a maximum of 14 single blind boxes each.
    Julia Gomez, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • For example, a single filer claiming the full $25,000 would lose the deduction entirely at $400,000 in income.
    Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • That leaves fiscal hawks in a strange position.
    Taylor Millard, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
  • In a viral TikTok video, a group of ducks seems to have developed a strange obsession with a dachshund chilling out in the grass, and internet users can't cope with the hilarious footage.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • What’s unusual, in this case, is that the accounts start at birth, and with a $1,000 balance.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Another unusual item on display is the up-and-down button from the elevator to the observation tower.
    Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Harmful behaviors are not an uncommon occurrence in Indiana schools.
    IndyStar, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Design What Lincoln equipped on the Nautilus loaned to me was a standard list of luxury options, coupled with some more uncommon ones.
    Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The city and its neighborhoods seemed abandoned, except for the occasional roving pack of rescue workers or out-of-town law enforcement.
    Mandi Wright, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Encourage Ongoing Learning Through Shared Insights Start by making learning part of the everyday rhythm, not an occasional event.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The stabbing wasn’t the only incident at the San Francisco church to appear in CatholicVote’s database.
    Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 30 Aug. 2025
  • The only catch is that stock for some of these deals may sell out fast, so shop sooner rather than later.
    Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The first fires tore across humble, pioneering patches of plant life no taller than your ankle, as well as burning through rather more astonishing, and truly bizarre, 25-foot columns of fungus that briefly held sway on this desolate world before trees.
    Peter Brannen, Big Think, 28 Aug. 2025
  • In the wake of the bizarre incident, chair umpire Greg Allensworth awarded a new first serve instead of a second to Bonze, sparking Medvedev’s public meltdown.
    Manasi Pathak, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Jacqueline Burnett and David Schultz’s extraordinary careers at Hubbard Street date back to 2009.
    Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Astronomers made the rare and extraordinary discovery of an interstellar object in our own solar system on July 1, 2025, sparking a scramble to study the mysterious visitor.
    Andrew Jones, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Odd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/odd. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.

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