Synonyms of peculiar

peculiar

adjective

pi-ˈkyül-yər 

1

as in unusual

being out of the ordinary

a writer with a peculiar talent for capturing the feel of everyday conversation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unusual
• extraordinary
• unique
• exceptional
• abnormal
• rare
• uncommon
• odd
• remarkable
• outstanding
• singular
• anomalous
• exceeding
• atypical
• incredible
• unwonted
• phenomenal
• aberrant
• especial
• noticeable
• striking
• freak
• uncustomary
• conspicuous
• notable
• prominent
• bizarre
• strange
• preternatural
• aberrated
• salient
• eccentric
• extraordinaire
• weird
• deviant
• quaint
• freakish
• incomprehensible
• inconceivable
• oddball
• outlandish
• unimaginable
• unthinkable
• monstrous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• common
• normal
• ordinary
• typical
• usual
• customary
• familiar
• unexceptional
• unextraordinary
• frequent
• everyday

2

as in strange

different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion

a peculiar and catlike way of walking

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strange
• bizarre
• weird
• odd
• funny
• curious
• remarkable
• erratic
• unusual
• eccentric
• crazy
• unique
• abnormal
• quirky
• wacky
• screwy
• uncommon
• quaint
• offbeat
• queer
• off-the-wall
• outlandish
• funky
• wild
• kinky
• out-of-the-way
• kooky
• rare
• unconventional
• outré
• extraordinary
• outrageous
• way-out
• rum
• bizarro
• far-out
• weirdo
• queerish
• cranky
• off-kilter
• outstanding
• fantastic
• striking
• freakish
• conspicuous
• shocking
• noticeable
• atypical
• prominent
• singular
• aberrant
• freaky
• notable
• freak
• phenomenal
• unwonted
• flaky
• spaced-out
• idiosyncratic
• salient
• phantasmagoric
• puzzling
• perplexing
• baffling
• out-there
• unorthodox
• bewildering
• confounding
• mystifying
• atrocious
• uncustomary
• nonconformist
• crotchety
• addlepated
• nonmainstream

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• normal
• ordinary
• typical
• usual
• standard
• average
• commonplace
• prosaic
• routine
• everyday
• garden
• conventional
• conservative
• familiar
• unremarkable
• unexceptional
• common
• predictable
• workaday
• run-of-the-mill
• regular
• frequent
• customary
• expected
• conformist
• habitual
• knee-jerk
• wonted

3

as in uncommon

noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced

a peculiar response to a polite query about his health

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unusual
• uncommon
• strange
• funny
• weird
• rare
• extraordinary
• curious
• unique
• odd
• bizarre
• special
• singular
• out-of-the-way
• unaccustomed
• offbeat
• queer
• eccentric
• abnormal
• remarkable
• uncustomary
• noticeable
• exceptional
• atypical
• oddball
• outré
• outlandish
• noteworthy
• notable
• particular
• aberrant
• kooky
• way-out
• far-out
• irregular
• newsworthy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• common
• ordinary
• usual
• plain
• normal
• familiar
• typical
• unexceptional
• regular
• predictable
• expected

4

as in personal

of, relating to, or belonging to a single person

his peculiar way of talking

Synonyms & Similar Words

• personal
• subjective
• personalized
• unique
• private
• singular
• particular
• individual
• individualized
• distinctive
• patented
• idiomatic
• separate
• characteristic
• idiosyncratic
• privy
• specific
• special
• identifying
• intimate
• specialized
• express
• independent
• custom
• especial
• customized
• nonconformist
• self-sufficient
• self-directed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• general
• public
• popular
• universal
• generic
• broad
• widespread
• prevalent
• common
• normal
• typical
• shared
• regular
• prevailing

5

as in characteristic

serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group

the koala is peculiar to Australia

Synonyms & Similar Words

• characteristic
• distinctive
• distinct
• typical
• distinguishing
• unmistakable
• individual
• diagnostic
• identifying
• proper
• classic
• symptomatic
• discriminating
• usual
• general
• common
• idiosyncratic
• special
• specific
• particular
• generic
• identifiable
• pronounced
• normal
• regular
• especial
• paradigmatic
• archetypal
• model

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• atypical
• uncharacteristic
• untypical
• nontypical

6

as in specific

of a particular or exact sort

a matter of peculiar interest to us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• specific
• special
• distinct
• precise
• sole
• express
• specialized
• distinctive
• concrete
• especial
• unique
• only
• single
• set
• limited
• solitary
• separate
• individual
• exclusive
• restricted
• lone
• differentiated
• specified
• given

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nonspecific
• general
• universal
• generic
• generalized
• nonexclusive

Synonym Chooser

How is the word peculiar distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

the peculiar status of America's first lady

In what contexts can eccentric take the place of peculiar?

While in some cases nearly identical to peculiar, eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

When could erratic be used to replace peculiar?

The words erratic and peculiar are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

When is odd a more appropriate choice than peculiar?

The synonyms odd and peculiar are sometimes interchangeable, but odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

When would outlandish be a good substitute for peculiar?

The meanings of outlandish and peculiar largely overlap; however, outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

When is it sensible to use quaint instead of peculiar?

Although the words quaint and peculiar have much in common, quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

Where would singular be a reasonable alternative to peculiar?

The words singular and peculiar can be used in similar contexts, but singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

When can strange be used instead of peculiar?

In some situations, the words strange and peculiar are roughly equivalent. However, 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 peculiar?

While the synonyms unique and peculiar are close in meaning, unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel.

a career unique in the annals of science

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of peculiar

Mandel’s work also informed a 2012 New York Times Magazine column on how the art market thrives on inequality, which argued that fine art belongs less to the broader global economy than to the peculiar economy of the very rich. — Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

The past and present compete for attention without consistently making each other more interesting, and the escape-room mechanics suffer from a peculiar combination of overexplanation and confusion. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026

His Lost Lautner is a cabinet of curiosities reflecting his and Bauwens’s hyper-peculiar interests. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 13 Oct. 2026

Over to the right, where the half-dozen tech leaders had signed on, things looked considerably more chaotic and peculiar. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026

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