PECULIAR Synonyms: 197 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

peculiar

adjective

pi-ˈkyül-yər

Definition of peculiar

as in unusual

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in personal

of, relating to, or belonging to a single person his peculiar way of talking

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in characteristic

serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group the koala is peculiar to Australia

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in specific

of a particular or exact sort a matter of peculiar interest to us

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 peculiar One of the earliest examples of sampling technology, its peculiar tone was initially conceived so that anybody could play, say, a flute, by using a tape recording of that flute remapped onto the notes of a keyboard. — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 19 July 2026 This peculiar group has evolved an astonishing array of survival strategies, superpowers, and oddities. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026 So this peculiar behavior on social media was out of character. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026 Adding these impacts to the early Earth’s heat budget, though, proved rather challenging because Earth has a peculiar way of healing its scars. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for peculiar

Recent Examples of Synonyms for peculiar

Adjective

But a small part is how the Rays have managed his unusual situation, handling him with some care.

— Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026
Categories for entrants in the pet parade included cutest pet, an owner and pet dress-alike, the biggest and smallest pet, most unusual pet and best trick.

— David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026

Definition of unusual

Adjective

While Deliverance follows more or less in the footsteps of Blackwater Park, Damnation digs into a strange new realm for the band, uncovering something even darker.

— Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 19 July 2026
Downstate, the threat of black vultures still feels new and strange.

— Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026

Definition of strange

Adjective

For remote routes, a satellite messenger or personal locator beacon is worth the investment.

— Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
Merz took the opportunity to make a series of changes after a senior ally quit as the leader of his bloc's parliamentary group over personal conduct that undermined his credibility.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026

Definition of personal

Adjective

The simple bodywork incorporates components like the seat and headlamp into the design while maintaining a characteristic adventure-bike stance.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 July 2026
Track three scuttles atop a bed of pine needles and broken eggshells, a nervous, almost dubsteppy rhythm haloed in Four Tet’s characteristic bell tones.

— Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 18 July 2026

Definition of characteristic

Adjective

This allowed the federal government to more easily zero in on a common culprit that had been consumed, which in turn helped identify the source of an outbreak, such as a specific farm, ranch or distributor.

— Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
In part, because of the safety-critical and specific knowledge needed to keep thousands of planes on track every day, airlines don’t often hire from other industries, especially at the top.

— Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 19 July 2026

Definition of specific

Adjective

The wider festival celebrated speed, engineering and extraordinary cars, while Future Lab looked at what might be waiting around the next bend.

— Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026
Paying a toll can void a vessel’s entire insurance policy, creating an extraordinary risk for shipping companies.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 24 July 2026

Definition of extraordinary

Adjective

But at the end of this bizarre game in Miami, this silly 6-4 thriller, this giddy attacking exhibition of some of the world’s best players, and some of the world’s worst defending, England were on the winning side.

— Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Southwest’s bizarre seat assignments and enforcement policies may have had operational roots, but customers assumed the worst.

— Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of bizarre

Cite this Entry

Style

“Peculiar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peculiar. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of peculiar

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on peculiar

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

aerie

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

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

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

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

Popular in Wordplay

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes