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Synonym Chooser

How is the word strange distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of strange are eccentric, erratic, odd, outlandish, peculiar, quaint, singular, and unique. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

When might eccentric be a better fit than strange?

The meanings of eccentric and strange largely overlap; however, 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 strange?

The words erratic and strange can be used in similar contexts, but erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

In what contexts can odd take the place of strange?

Although the words odd and strange have much in common, odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

When is it sensible to use outlandish instead of strange?

While in some cases nearly identical to strange, outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

When would peculiar be a good substitute for strange?

The synonyms peculiar and strange are sometimes interchangeable, but peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

When is quaint a more appropriate choice than strange?

In some situations, the words quaint and strange are roughly equivalent. However, quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

Where would singular be a reasonable alternative to strange?

While the synonyms singular and strange are close in meaning, singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

When can unique be used instead of strange?

The words unique and strange are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 strange Draft number three, growing larger and stranger every day. Michael Jerome Plunkett september 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025 So begins a strange night of coincidences and misadventures. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025 The film stars Boon as Tommy, a 19-year-old hooligan who wakes up from an all-night bender in the basement of a strange suburban home, bound with a chain around his neck. Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025 Lopez is no stranger to wearing daring fashion looks. Starr Bowenbank, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for strange
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strange
Adjective
  • But upon Bennet’s arrival, things take a turn for the bizarre, when the wealthy tycoon builds himself a prison cell in the basement, in an apparent act of meditative penance that forces Blakey into an inversion of traditional power dynamics.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Tasked with bringing into reality those that are a little further down on the bizarre end of the spectrum, the show’s prosthetics and VFX teams had their work cut out for them.
    Lisa de los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But there are also completely unexpected sights, like edible ferns, exotic chilis, and snake beans, which look like string beans but are about twice the length.
    Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Animal Rescue Corps not only saves cats and dogs, but also exotic pets, barnyard animals, wildlife, and even once saved hundreds of mice from a hoarding case.
    Meg Dunn, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Even what a new employee might feel on their very first day — welcomed, oriented, and inspired, or lost in a maze of unfamiliar faces and spaces.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
  • During their daytime searches, researchers found several unfamiliar-looking lizards, the study said.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Because our mulch is rubber, this seemed unusual, and out of caution, the guardian was called immediately.
    Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Routh, who is representing himself, has filed unusual motions requesting strippers and a golf round with the president.
    Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Even with Muchová so clearly struggling, Osaka faced some weird jeopardy down the stretch.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Far from being dead, reunions exist now in a zone of distortion, a weird gray area in which many people feel obligated to go without quite knowing why.
    Jordan Michelman, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • His most recent work was 2023's Coup de Chance, a French romantic thriller that marked his 50th feature film and premiered at the Venice International Film Festival.
    Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Fresh off a romantic vacation in Mallorca, the Friends starlet was seen in Los Angeles sporting a basic grey tank top tucked into a pair of light-wash, wide-leg jeans—a late ‘90s look that Rachel Green definitely would have worn herself.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • New York — At the heart of the case against the man accused of the Gilgo Beach killings is DNA evidence — but the novel way that evidence was tested may now determine whether prosecutors can use it against their prime suspect, Long Island architect and family man Rex Heuermann.
    Michelle Watson, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
  • This discovery opens the door to developing novel interventions to improve attention and memory, as well as designing brain-computer interface technology that enhances selective processing and the storing of information.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Harmful behaviors are not an uncommon occurrence in Indiana schools.
    IndyStar, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Design What Lincoln equipped on the Nautilus loaned to me was a standard list of luxury options, coupled with some more uncommon ones.
    Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Strange.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strange. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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