out-of-the-way 1 of 2

adjective

ˌau̇t-ə(v)-t͟hə-ˈwā How to pronounce out-of-the-way (audio)
Definition of out-of-the-waynext
1
as in bizarre
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion the night watchman calls the police if he notices any out-of-the-way activity taking place during his shift

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unusual
noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced there was nothing out-of-the-way about the hitchhiker's appearance that might arouse suspicion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

out of the way

2 of 2

phrase

1
as in up
brought or having come to an end Now that we've got the first step out of the way it's time to start phase two.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation They hoped he wouldn't say anything out of the way at the party.

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 out-of-the-way
Adjective
Such fires are a constant threat in the sawmill industry, which continuously produces fine dust that is highly flammable; fires often start inside machines or in out-of-the-way corners and can get out of control before they’re even detected. — David Prosser, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026 But flight routes to out-of-the-way areas are often money losers for airlines, since passenger demand can be low and erratic. — Sacha Pfeiffer, NPR, 12 May 2026 Empty out cabinets and drawers and set these items aside in an out-of-the-way area. — Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 24 Apr. 2026 The fun starts when Ben turns up soon after her pack is stolen and insists on offering her replacement gear and breakfast at his out-of-the-way campsite. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for out-of-the-way
Recent Examples of Synonyms for out-of-the-way
  1. bizarre
  2. unusual
  3. strange
  4. uncommon
  5. weird
  6. funny
  7. odd
  8. rare
Adjective
  • When this place is eventually gone — a phrase that feels truly bizarre given the environment this summer and the half-century preceding it — the lasting images will be the seas of red.
    — Sam McDowell Updated July 3, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
  • Continue reading … 'DEEPLY WEIRD' — CNN panel's bizarre 'read as Jewish' comment about a senator draws fierce blowback.
    — , FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of bizarre
Adjective
  • Although his adoption listing didn't mention his unusual paws, his foster mom did.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
  • Indeed, that has led to the highly unusual situation of Australia not being the defending champions in either women’s World Cup, with India holding the 50-over title and New Zealand the T20 crown.
    — Paul Newman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • Others may miss the warmth of a person who can read the room, handle a strange request or help when something goes wrong.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • Canada coach Jesse Marsch gives strange interview after Morocco World Cup loss.
    — Alex Connor, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of strange
Adjective
  • An inconclusive ballistics result is not uncommon, as the analysis depends on the size and condition of the bullet fragments recovered.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • This trend reflects companies' need to expand and contract rapidly, prompting landlords to prebuild and furnish spaces, a practice uncommon just five years ago.
    — Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of uncommon
Adjective
  • The bet, which happened on Polymarket, isn’t weird for the wild world of prediction markets.
    — Jon Sarlin, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • The weird, vaguely threatening statement doesn’t lay the groundwork for a productive night, so naturally the vibes are just all off as the boys hang, so much so that Christian regrets planning it altogether.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 July 2026
Definition of weird
Adjective
  • The obligatory army of A-list funny people (Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman, Dave Chappelle operating at minimal annoyingness) assembles to praise him in this two-part doc from directors Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026
  • The spunky comedy streaming service couldn’t hit the mainstream enough to attract voters, despite some very funny programming.
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 July 2026
Definition of funny
Adjective
  • The idea is to make healthy eating doable, especially for an audience with odd hours and high-stress jobs.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Put those two next to each other and the picture is odd and clarifying at once.
    — Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of odd
Adjective
  • It’s frequented by rare and endangered animals such as melonhead whales, Hawaiian monk seals, and hawksbill and green sea turtles.
    — Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Some also face rarer conditions that affect not only nighttime sleep but also the ability to stay awake and alert during the day.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 July 2026
Definition of rare

Browse Nearby Words

out of sorts
out-of-the-way
out of the way
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Out-of-the-way.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/out-of-the-way. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of xeric

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All