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Synonym Chooser

How is the word outlandish distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of outlandish are eccentric, erratic, odd, peculiar, quaint, singular, strange, and unique. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

When is it sensible to use eccentric instead of outlandish?

The words eccentric and outlandish can be used in similar contexts, but eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

In what contexts can erratic take the place of outlandish?

Although the words erratic and outlandish have much in common, erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

When can odd be used instead of outlandish?

In some situations, the words odd and outlandish are roughly equivalent. However, odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

When would peculiar be a good substitute for outlandish?

While the synonyms peculiar and outlandish are close in meaning, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

When could quaint be used to replace outlandish?

The meanings of quaint and outlandish largely overlap; however, quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

When is singular a more appropriate choice than outlandish?

The words singular and outlandish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

Where would strange be a reasonable alternative to outlandish?

While in some cases nearly identical to outlandish, strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

When might unique be a better fit than outlandish?

The synonyms unique and outlandish are sometimes interchangeable, but unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel.

a career unique in the annals of science

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 outlandish This year, conspiracy theories that once might have seemed outlandish resonate as entirely plausible, especially when dramatized by the formidable casts charged with bringing these stories to life. Hugh Hart, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025 Fitzgerald used these wealthy, African Americans described in bestial terms, as a point of humor and as a way of showing how the place his protagonist found himself in was outlandish and preposterous to the point that Black men could be wealthy enough to hire a white driver. Kyra Davis Lurie june 11, Literary Hub, 11 June 2025 One outlandish strand of the plot has its roots in Shakespearean comedy. Book Marks june 5, Literary Hub, 5 June 2025 To show how outlandish Nvidia’s path was, just look at its valuation along with Huang’s net worth. John Tamny, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for outlandish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outlandish
Adjective
  • While most players at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship are battling the Texas heat, slow play, and a demanding Fields Ranch East layout, Leona Maguire is dealing with something far more bizarre—tick bites!
    Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025
  • The Myth Of More A Boston University professor turned the business world on its head back in 2015 by exposing a bizarre truth about productivity in the workplace.
    Drew Gerber, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • There'd always been someone, not even necessarily a romantic partner.
    Glamour, Glamour, 27 June 2025
  • Florals, of course, are fail-proof: romantic, timeless, and seasonally apt.
    Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • The night before the baby junco landed in the research team’s net, a strange, shifting light filtered through the forest, not far from where the Long Trail, Vermont’s end-to-end hiking route, traverses the Mount Mansfield ridgeline.
    Madeline Bodin, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
  • But one of the strangest well wishes came not from a person, but a 1,400-foot-tall building.
    Stephen Daw, Billboard, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • It’s become soldered to my identity, serving as both the ultimate in-group badge and a versatile stylistic accessory: eye-catching, a bit exotic, an opportunity to add color and flair.
    Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
  • Set theorists have continued to define cardinals that are far more exotic and difficult to describe than Cantor’s.
    Gregory Barber, Quanta Magazine, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • McGrath's older brother and two of her younger sisters described her as funny, sarcastic, full of life and so caring that the homeless in her neighborhood greeted her by name.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 25 June 2025
  • Much like his character, Boyce is mild-mannered, kind and effortlessly funny.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • Sometimes your audio is all screwed up and echoing, there are weird pauses everywhere, and nothing interesting gets said.
    Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • People talk about uncanny valley in terms of the look of these robots – there’s kind of a weird uncanny valley thing going on as well with AI artwork.
    Katcy Stephan, Variety, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • Other varieties provide additional design elements such as interesting bark, colorful fruits, and fabulous fall foliage to enhance the garden all year long.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 June 2025
  • The film is set in the fictional Mongibello, which Highsmith based on the resort towns along the Amalfi Coast, and unlike nearly all of the previous decade’s noir films, Purple Noon presents its seaside setting in colorful daytime to dazzling visual effect.
    Erik Morse, Vogue, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • Personal journey: Arriving in Miami from Cuba as a teenager, Arnaz initially worked odd jobs before reinventing himself as a musician, leading to a successful career that included collaborations with notable band leaders and performances in New York and Miami Beach.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 21 June 2025
  • In the video, Boone is in debt $10 million to his record label and has to raise enough cash to pay them back doing odd jobs.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Outlandish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outlandish. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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