1
as in bizarre
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion
an offbeat approach to the task, but it gets the job done
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unusual
noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced
this writer has an enjoyably offbeat sense of humor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 offbeat
The ten-ton Behind the Music melodrama of Wilson’s later life often threatened to obscure his actual musical contribution, already so offbeat and vulnerable.
—
Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 13 June 2025
The rough playfulness by Noah Hawley mirrored the offbeat quirky humor Joel and Ethan Coen injected in their Fargo film, and Thornton was hooked.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 12 June 2025
As Californians increasingly contend with living among wolves, black bears and mountain lions, an offbeat new fantasy movie reflects many state residents’ anxieties about their proximity to wildlife.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
Featuring a screenplay by Anderson and Roman Coppola, the offbeat comedy follows the story of European businessman Zsa-zsa Korda (Del Toro) and his only daughter and sole heir, a nun named Sister Liesel (Threapleton), who are each being targeted by assassins and schemers.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for offbeat
Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 13 June 2025
The rough playfulness by Noah Hawley mirrored the offbeat quirky humor Joel and Ethan Coen injected in their Fargo film, and Thornton was hooked.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 12 June 2025
As Californians increasingly contend with living among wolves, black bears and mountain lions, an offbeat new fantasy movie reflects many state residents’ anxieties about their proximity to wildlife.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
Featuring a screenplay by Anderson and Roman Coppola, the offbeat comedy follows the story of European businessman Zsa-zsa Korda (Del Toro) and his only daughter and sole heir, a nun named Sister Liesel (Threapleton), who are each being targeted by assassins and schemers.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for offbeat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offbeat
Adjective
-
While most players at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship are battling the Texas heat, slow play, and a demanding Fields Ranch East layout, Leona Maguire is dealing with something far more bizarre—tick bites!—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 June 2025
-
And frankly that bizarre idea makes the PEN Charter incoherent too.—
Kamila Shamsie
June 20,
Literary Hub,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
James Hurley gives a moving performance at the Road House outside of Twin Peaks, and learns of an unusual vision experienced by his cockney co-worker at Great Northern security, Freddie, who will defend James from the attack of a jealous husband with a most unusual strength-enhancing glove.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
20 June 2025
-
Now, another unusual way to grab hiring managers attention is going viral: Sneaking your resume into a box of donuts.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
McGrath's older brother and two of her younger sisters described her as funny, sarcastic, full of life and so caring that the homeless in her neighborhood greeted her by name.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
-
Much like his character, Boyce is mild-mannered, kind and effortlessly funny.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
Every great American story is sentimental in the same way: instincts born out of struggle, the triumph of the schoolyard over the classroom, uncommon creativity driven by necessity.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
-
That’s not an uncommon sight for K-pop superstars, as their massive followings understand how the charts work and focus their energy on pushing a title as high as possible in its first frame.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
The night before the baby junco landed in the research team’s net, a strange, shifting light filtered through the forest, not far from where the Long Trail, Vermont’s end-to-end hiking route, traverses the Mount Mansfield ridgeline.—
Madeline Bodin,
Smithsonian Magazine,
27 June 2025
-
But one of the strangest well wishes came not from a person, but a 1,400-foot-tall building.—
Stephen Daw,
Billboard,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
Sometimes your audio is all screwed up and echoing, there are weird pauses everywhere, and nothing interesting gets said.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
-
People talk about uncanny valley in terms of the look of these robots – there’s kind of a weird uncanny valley thing going on as well with AI artwork.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
26 June 2025
Adjective
-
Personal journey: Arriving in Miami from Cuba as a teenager, Arnaz initially worked odd jobs before reinventing himself as a musician, leading to a successful career that included collaborations with notable band leaders and performances in New York and Miami Beach.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
21 June 2025
-
In the video, Boone is in debt $10 million to his record label and has to raise enough cash to pay them back doing odd jobs.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
Panthers’ rotating power play The Panthers find themselves in a peculiar deployment predicament with Bennett and Marchand — their two hottest shooters — both part of the second power-play unit and seeing much less ice time with the man advantage as a result.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
10 June 2025
-
The non-native animal had, oddly enough, become a living pillar of Florida’s peculiar history.—
Michaela Mulligan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offbeat. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share