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
  • Years earlier at her former lab in Ohio, chromosomes in mouse eggs and embryos began dividing in bizarre ways, creating the kinds of genetic errors that can lead to Down syndrome and other chromosomal disorders.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Her videos were outrageous and conspiratorial, and the more elaborate and bizarre her stories became, the more people online were drawn to her.
    — Zander Sherman, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of bizarre
Adjective
  • The conflict played out under the watchful eye of Johnson’s senior adviser, Jason Lee — an unusual involvement for a high-ranking mayoral staffer, given that the $8 million grant is administered by a separate department.
    — Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Guerrero’s struggles have been particularly noticeable, creating an unusual disconnect between his superstar status and his production.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • Investigators later ruled out trains and power lines as possible causes — and traced the fire’s point of origin to the same spot Child witnessed the man’s strange behavior.
    — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • And Dad actually makes an uncredited vocal cameo on one of the album’s more blessedly strange tracks.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of strange
Adjective
  • Performance reviews under the CZMA are not uncommon — most states are subject to a routine review every five to 10 years — but what’s unusual in this case is that California had just undergone a review during the Biden administration.
    — Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • But nobody can prove how uncommon, because the ones that arrive with a gag order never appear in anybody’s count.
    — Michael Leone, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of uncommon
Adjective
  • But Fried’s thought is far too varied and weird—closer to Manny Farber’s than Clement Greenberg’s—to permit dogmatic religiosity for long.
    — Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The power did something weird, and the lights kind of exploded almost.
    — Rashad Williams, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of weird
Adjective
  • Sarcasm is an interesting thing because it can be viewed by some people as funny and other people as hurtful.
    — Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • A little bit funny, a lot cheesy and completely, unabashedly earnest, her Liz is — like moms everywhere — at once a perfectly ordinary woman and the center of the universe.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of funny
Adjective
  • This may seem like an odd one, but this Springsugar hair set comes with three combs, a hair wax stick, and a finishing stick.
    — Hayley Domin, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The instruments and rhythms dance with Lenae’s sinuous vocals, nudging her into odd pockets, uplifting her notes.
    — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of odd
Adjective
  • These falcons and other birds of prey were once rare in the region, with their population even reaching zero at one point.
    — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Although postpartum psychosis is rare, Leistikow said, families can take steps to prepare, particularly if the mother has a history of mental illness.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 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 15 Aug. 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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

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
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All