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 2phrase
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
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Recent Examples of out-of-the-way
Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2025
And Beekman Place, the tiny, out-of-the-way East River enclave favored by the old-money crowd since Shipman and her society cohort transformed it into a fashionable spot in the 1920s, largely fell out of favor around 2000.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 22 Sep. 2025
My eye was arrested by a couple of pairs in a stunning new shade, the purple of wisteria, sitting on an almost-out-of-the-way shelf.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025
The out-of-the-way, squat brick building is appropriately dark inside, but clean and fairly spacious.
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for out-of-the-way
Adjective
As for where to decorate, focus on your TV stand, end tables, and kitchen table, the most high-traffic but out-of-the-way areas.
—Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2025
And Beekman Place, the tiny, out-of-the-way East River enclave favored by the old-money crowd since Shipman and her society cohort transformed it into a fashionable spot in the 1920s, largely fell out of favor around 2000.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 22 Sep. 2025
My eye was arrested by a couple of pairs in a stunning new shade, the purple of wisteria, sitting on an almost-out-of-the-way shelf.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025
The out-of-the-way, squat brick building is appropriately dark inside, but clean and fairly spacious.
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for out-of-the-way
Recent Examples of Synonyms for out-of-the-way
Adjective
-
The band performed the song, sans Pat Smear who is recovering from a bizarre gardening accident that led to a broken foot, on The Graham Norton Show on Friday.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
22 Feb. 2026
-
All three runners had reached base, and all were tagged out on one bizarre play.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In the footage and images released by the FBI, the suspect appears to have a gun holstered near the center of his waist – an unusual position – and is seen wearing a backpack with reflective straps.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Austin criminal defense attorney Sam Bassett told CBS affiliate KEYE-TV that a declaration of innocence is very unusual.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The backstory The island has been accumulating stories the way its volcanic soil accumulates roots, in layers, each one stranger than the last.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
-
These two worlds may seem like strange bedfellows—what does a luxury hotel in Switzerland’s Engadine valley have to do with the king of the 1980s downtown New York art scene?—
Laura May Todd,
Vogue,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
However, more uncommon but serious side effects, like acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) and gallbladder issues, need immediate medical attention.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Criminal defenses that meet the legal threshold to argue an alternative perpetrator was responsible are extremely uncommon in the state, legal experts told the Statesman.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Except for the weird assortment of tentacled, befinned, leaflike, rocklike, or altogether bizarre strangers who busily or somnolently populate the stone.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The resulting cookies are speckled like bird food (in a good way) and as fueling as a protein bar (without any of the weird ingredients).—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The builders’ alternating harassment and bribery leaves Cook with little recourse, especially when mafioso-like representatives begin dropping by at all hours, leading to dry exchanges — what little dialogue the film has is extremely funny.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
-
This Elvis comes across confident, breezy, comfortable and funny.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The painstaking work to preserve the species might seem odd to outsiders, but the parrot is just one of many spirited and strange avians in a country where birds reign supreme.—
Charlotte Graham-McLay,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Forty-odd women, a significant number among the on-the-ground press, had covered the First World War for American papers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This year, with a bumper crop of the strange parrot’s favorite berries prompting a rare enthusiasm for mating, those working to save the birds hope for a record number of chicks in February, which would move the kakapo closer to defying what was not long ago believed to be certain extinction.—
Charlotte Graham-McLay,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The Boca Raton downtown campus redevelopment project represents a rare opportunity to modernize aging public facilities, improve how downtown functions, and do so in a fiscally responsible manner.—
Troy McLellan,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Out-of-the-way.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/out-of-the-way. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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