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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of offbeat
There was the campus, red brick and lush grass, an offbeat blend of 20th-century construction and New England charm that felt unpolished in the best way.
—
Lucy Feldman, Time, 17 Dec. 2025
Literary Chic Fans of fall’s modern prep look will find much to love in spring’s take, as designers pushed the idea of uniform dressing into more expressive territory with offbeat color combos and layered styling.
—Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2025
But perhaps the best aspect of Update was the return of Jane Wickline’s offbeat keyboard ditties.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Dec. 2025
But Howard and Carrey persisted in their efforts to give the film a unique, offbeat tone.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offbeat
Lucy Feldman, Time, 17 Dec. 2025
Literary Chic Fans of fall’s modern prep look will find much to love in spring’s take, as designers pushed the idea of uniform dressing into more expressive territory with offbeat color combos and layered styling.
—Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2025
But perhaps the best aspect of Update was the return of Jane Wickline’s offbeat keyboard ditties.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Dec. 2025
But Howard and Carrey persisted in their efforts to give the film a unique, offbeat tone.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offbeat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offbeat
Adjective
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His work is marked by unusual, even bizarre, material choices that encrust spatial compositions reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s innovative open space plans.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
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Some unnamed Chicago bartender in the early 1880s had the improbable idea of taking a Whiskey Sour and adding a little red wine to the top, inventing in a bizarre flash of insightone of the great warm weather whiskey drinks of our time.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This translation by Nancy Naomi Carlson preserves the rich musicality of the original French, as well as its frequent use of wordplay and often unusual word choice.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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Ostrich Leather Recognizable by its distinctive quill pattern and supple texture, ostrich leather combines durability with an unusual kind of beauty.—
Cortne Bonilla,
Vogue,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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To the contrary, though the film is frequently funny, Brewer takes their ambitions and reversals seriously.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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Hockey is a funny game sometimes.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Engineers with PennDOT said the slide sent debris across both lanes of I-79 in an area where landslides are not uncommon.—
Patrick Damp,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
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Serious side effects are uncommon, but high-dose treatment for deficiency can occasionally cause low potassium levels.—
Karen Berger,
Verywell Health,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The sounds had become a strange new normal for the diverse Central neighborhood.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
10 Jan. 2026
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And there was a strange preoccupation with running out of time, even though the show ended a good 15 minutes early as if the performers didn’t understand their own timeline.—
Matthew J. Palm,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The then-unknown Michael Shannon, whose early career roles in Chicago were every bit as weird as this play, starred in that production.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
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But this year, due to weird scheduling, the BAFTA nods will come out on January 27, after the Oscar nominations.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Toronto netminder Dennis Hildeby stoned Trevor Zegras on a breakaway, and later made consecutive saves on Matvei Michkov and Sean Couturier to spring the odd-man rush that led to Cowan's goal.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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The details of Cooper’s crime seemed too tempting to McNally, a high school dropout turned military-airplane electrician who’d pursued odd jobs and scams since being discharged.—
Johnny Dodd,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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That's part of a peculiar mindset that insists people with low incomes should not only be poor, but miserable.—
NEAL RUBIN,
Freep.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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The writers mold a peculiar premise in their screenplay by avoiding another dime-a-dozen found footage spectacle, instead turning a very careful eye toward the real-life atrocities committed by the church — plus some genuine scares.—
Michael Lee Simpson,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offbeat. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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