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
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of offbeat
If this is a slightly offbeat choice for a midnight movie column, there’s something to be said about the surreality of viewing such an immediate and reactive artform from nearly 10 years of distance.
—
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 May 2026
Some wire sculptures were featured in Saret’s breakthrough 1968 exhibition at New York’s Bykert Gallery, a space that was known for its offbeat offerings.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 28 May 2026
Set in the lush forests and fields of northeastern France, this excitingly offbeat first feature from Sarah Arnold depicts a gory factional war between hunters and farmers, haves and have-nots, with one depressed fish-out-of-water gendarme caught in the middle.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
But the offbeat atmosphere is attractive to the brand, despite its national acclaim.
—Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for offbeat
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 May 2026
Some wire sculptures were featured in Saret’s breakthrough 1968 exhibition at New York’s Bykert Gallery, a space that was known for its offbeat offerings.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 28 May 2026
Set in the lush forests and fields of northeastern France, this excitingly offbeat first feature from Sarah Arnold depicts a gory factional war between hunters and farmers, haves and have-nots, with one depressed fish-out-of-water gendarme caught in the middle.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
But the offbeat atmosphere is attractive to the brand, despite its national acclaim.
—Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for offbeat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offbeat
Adjective
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In a bizarre scene at the ceremony, his troops stood at attention as Ríos addressed them in a live video feed from a Bogotá prison.—
John Otis,
NPR,
21 June 2026
-
This has produced a toxic and bizarre backlash.—
Tom Deignan,
New York Daily News,
21 June 2026
Adjective
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French authorities said unusual betting patterns were detected around a yellow card Wahi received in a Ligue 1 match while playing for Nice last month.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
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The bar can do classic and pretty, strong and aromatic, familiar and unusual in the same round.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
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Other members of the cast contribute some sharp edges and moments that are legitimately funny.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
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Someone’s losing their dignity, and that’s funny.—
Jesse David Fox,
Vulture,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Tornadoes are not uncommon in Streator, a small rural town about 100 miles southwest of Chicago.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
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Todd Sohn, chief ETF strategist at Strategas Securities, says the pattern is familiar, even if the scale is uncommon.—
Krysta Escobar,
CNBC,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
Truth is stranger than fiction.—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
17 June 2026
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As Photay, Shornstein—a master synthesist and producer—flits between atmospheric house, dubby breakbeat workouts, and chirping electro funk, building his songs’ arrangements into strange, angular shapes.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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There’s been a weird weather quirk surrounding the national soccer teams that have made base camps in the Kansas City area.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2026
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When the series went back to New York, things got weird.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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However, because cities still hold elections in odd years — where Democratic turnout is historically higher than in Republican-leaning suburbs and rural areas — the math could tip in the amendment’s favor.—
Jeffrey M. Wice,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
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Immediately after alighting from its fanciful detour, Woods makes the odd decision to leave Emily’s perspective and lock into Sylvia’s.—
Natalia Winkelman,
Variety,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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There is a peculiar optimism embedded in the leadership development industry — a near-religious conviction that with the right workshop, the right coach, the right 360-degree feedback tool, any leader can be transformed into a better version of themselves.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
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Strange-looking body parts, peculiar backgrounds and photos of smiling teens who don’t actually exist.—
Shaddi Abusaid,
AJC.com,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offbeat. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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