oddity

noun

ˈä-də-tē How to pronounce oddity (audio)
Definition of odditynext
1
as in trick
an odd or peculiar habit his one oddity is collecting used pencil leads

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2
as in rarity
something strange or unusual that is an object of interest years ago circus sideshows used to display people with unusual physical features as oddities

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3
as in anomaly
something that is different from what is ordinary or expected she is an oddity in that, unlike her sisters, she avoids social media

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4
as in eccentric
a person of odd or whimsical habits an oddity with a penchant for weaving cat fur

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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 oddity In The Beauty, Ryan Murphy and co-creator Matthew Hodgson have concocted a genre-hopping oddity that sounds unlikely to work. — Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026 Despite the mechanical oddities inherent to living machines, investigations into spindle physics have been going on for decades. — Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 29 June 2026 In recent times, the mountain has developed some modern oddities. — William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 The decision to do a noise analysis in a Connecticut community came this year after residents shared their concerns about a strange constant hum that robbed them of sleep, impacted health and drew national media attention due to the oddity of the issue. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for oddity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oddity
  1. trick
  2. rarity
  3. anomaly
  4. eccentric
  5. quirk
  6. exception
  7. character
  8. trait
Noun
  • Les Bleus were then a penalty shootout away from retaining it four years later when a Mbappe hat-trick improbably wasn’t enough to ensure France became the first team to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • Small styling tricks can help create movement, texture, and add visual interest—and one of those is reflexing.
    — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 18 July 2026
Definition of trick
Noun
  • That was true from the early stages — when the standings bore greater resemblance to 2024 than 2025, a rarity compared with most of baseball history.
    — Neil Paine, New York Times, 16 July 2026
  • That rarity matters because earnings bubbles carry a detection problem that valuation bubbles don’t.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 July 2026
Definition of rarity
Noun
  • For a war imposing such radical change on the battlefield, the retention of 60-year-old Oleksandr Syrskyi as Ukraine’s top commander had become an anomaly.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • The pause comes as a result of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services audits showing payment anomalies in both states, with reviews in California finding certain in-home care programs exceeding national trends in spending.
    — Bloomberg, Daily News, 21 July 2026
Definition of anomaly
Noun
  • With its loose ends and digressions, Dream Me a Dream stays true to those idiosyncratic instincts while retaining enough of the welcoming glow of Dance of Love to make this an affecting farewell from an endearing eccentric.
    — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 22 June 2026
  • The eccentric cuz is quick to try and help Bobby solve problems, which often gets him into trouble, but ultimately pushes him out of his shell.
    — Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 20 June 2026
Definition of eccentric
Noun
  • Candid replaces that process with AI agents and a rules engine trained on the submission quirks of more than 1,000 payers, so claims go out correctly the first time.
    — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 22 July 2026
  • That gap is why sleep scientists are pushing organizations to build flexibility into schedules and policies, so chronotype becomes a factor in how work gets designed rather than a personal quirk to manage alone.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026
Definition of quirk
Noun
  • LaFleur has never said much during these conversations, and Thursday’s first day of training camp was no different — with one exception.
    — Doug Haller, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Fresh fruit While fresh fruit such as apples and bananas are allowed in carry-on and checked bags when flying within the continental United States per the solid foods rule, there are some key exceptions.
    — Fiona Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 July 2026
Definition of exception
Noun
  • Each chamber in the intimate inn has its own character, and pairs thoughtful amenities with tech-forward convenience.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 July 2026
  • Mineral-rich soils can add structure and mouthfeel, while climate affects sweetness, body, floral character and astringency.
    — Jill Barth, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of character
Noun
  • Before the pandemic, researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine typically saw adults seek ADHD evaluations after recognizing the same traits that led to their child’s diagnosis.
    — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 19 July 2026
  • Performance and off-road capability are not the little SUV’s best traits.
    — James Raia, Mercury News, 19 July 2026
Definition of trait

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oddities
oddity
oddly
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Cite this Entry

“Oddity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oddity. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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