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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of offbeat
Here the actress is liberated by something both offbeat and nuanced, selling a performance that is more effective at threading this morphing tone than the film itself is.
—
Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Shah always heads for the antiques shop Mon Grenier, which owner Abdellatif Bellamine keeps piled high with offbeat finds.
—Liza Foreman, Architectural Digest, 30 Apr. 2026
There’s that, plus the hundreds of thousands of stellar restaurants, outstanding shopping opportunities, and zany offbeat attractions that make the Japanese capital a wildly entertaining—and impeccably safe—destination for travelers of all kinds.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Or why not make something offbeat like that a regular part of the rotation?
—Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for offbeat
Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Shah always heads for the antiques shop Mon Grenier, which owner Abdellatif Bellamine keeps piled high with offbeat finds.
—Liza Foreman, Architectural Digest, 30 Apr. 2026
There’s that, plus the hundreds of thousands of stellar restaurants, outstanding shopping opportunities, and zany offbeat attractions that make the Japanese capital a wildly entertaining—and impeccably safe—destination for travelers of all kinds.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Or why not make something offbeat like that a regular part of the rotation?
—Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for offbeat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offbeat
Adjective
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That’s just a really bizarre back and forth to exist in.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
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As the story builds toward a violent showdown between the mourners and the town, the reader will be entranced by its surreal language and bizarre logic.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper says spikes in bacteria levels after storms are common, but experts say the duration of the current contamination event is unusual.—
Monique John,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
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But a true cure is elusive because hepatitis B has an unusual ability to hide in the body, ready to rebound if therapy stops.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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Cindy Morgan, who played bombshell Lacey Underall, recalled to Sports Illustrated in 2010 that, funny as Dangerfield was, the comic was nervous about his performance.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
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Abdullah Saeed’s Deli Boys debuted last year with a bang, quickly establishing itself as one of the most vibrant, funny, and well-rendered shows streaming.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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California’s way of determining which two candidates move from a primary to a general election — the result of Proposition 14 in 2010 — is uncommon.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
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Officials said cases over the last seven months have been concentrated in Northern California and the Central Coast, including counties where these mushrooms have historically been uncommon.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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Such a link however is characteristic of radicalization more generally, and indeed the strange story of Helter Skelter—the official script, certainly, but not only—becomes straightforward as soon as it is read as belonging to the longer history of politico-religious extremism, or terrorism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
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She’s paid to be at Souria’s beck and call every moment of the day and often gets awakened at strange times in the night for errands, like going out to buy every item on a fast-food restaurant’s menu and bring it back for a midnight feast.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
26 May 2026
Adjective
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Yes, baseball is weird sometimes.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 May 2026
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This is weird in at least three ways but, as mentioned, one sip and all the question marks disappear.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
23 May 2026
Adjective
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If the Patriots acquire Brown and keep Boutte, then there will likely be an odd-man out in this positional group, as well, if the team keeps just six wide receivers.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
26 May 2026
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Rudd has previously spoken candidly about working odd jobs in the '90s while pursuing his dream of being a working actor.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
Adjective
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Israel and Jordan occupy a peculiar position in this landscape.—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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The results may be the most peculiar for OpenAI’s GPT-5-mini.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offbeat. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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