Definition of weirdnext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word weird distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words eerie and uncanny are common synonyms of weird. While all three words mean "mysteriously strange or fantastic," weird may imply an unearthly or supernatural strangeness or it may stress peculiarity or oddness.

weird creatures from another world

When would eerie be a good substitute for weird?

While in some cases nearly identical to weird, eerie suggests an uneasy or fearful consciousness that mysterious and malign powers are at work.

an eerie calm preceded the bombing raid

When might uncanny be a better fit than weird?

The meanings of uncanny and weird largely overlap; however, uncanny implies disquieting strangeness or mysteriousness.

an uncanny resemblance between total strangers

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 weird A lot of blood and weird vampire goo! Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 28 Feb. 2026 These things all factored together made for some really weird icicles! Ray Petelin, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026 Fish is another one of those proteins that can taste very weird when not cooked correctly, but Tempo’s tasted delicious! Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Feb. 2026 There was no weird nervousness. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for weird
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weird
Adjective
  • The actor compares the image of a man blocking a tank, an impulsive move of resistance by one person, to how Berenger has to maneuver, then openly question, the increasing aggressive and bizarre actions of his fellow townsfolk.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2026
  • But Saturday’s most bizarre finish unfolded at Winter Park High School, where fans of both the Wildcats and Lake Mary ran onto the court to celebrate victory after the horn sounded, ending a low-scoring game that had fans on the edge of their seats all night.
    Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The killings are patterned on childhood drawings the victims made years earlier, lending the murders an eerie, premeditated quality.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026
  • Live broadcasts are an eerie experience.
    Roger Bennett, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Steve Carell taught it, and Adam McKay developed an entire new way of doing it with his group, so to get in there and have that happen was just absolutely magical.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Nobody has ever called Brentford head coach Keith Andrews a magical or imaginary being.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Because the diagnosis was so unusual, zoo staff examined the bodies of 64 free-ranging roof rats that had either been euthanized in the course of regular pest control or found dead on the property.
    Susanne Rust Follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
  • California voters approved a similar measure last fall as a counterpoint to Republicans' unusual mid-cycle redistricting that began in Texas.
    MEG KINNARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Key themes in her work include environmental catastrophe, belief, and the strange and unsettling aspects of human life.
    Joy Williams, The Dial, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Foremost among them was his strange work schedule.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • One day, a young Yemeni man, Yaqub, discovers Saida singing by the river, and is captivated by her beauty and her haunting melodies.
    The Know, Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2026
  • Buoyed by Indian-leaning instrumentation, and a haunting beat-switching production, the Argentine rapper explores themes of life, death and ambition in his freewheeling verse.
    Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • That’s partly because heat pumps work by extracting heat from outdoor air, compressing it and piping it indoors, a thermal magic trick that’s harder to perform in places with subzero winters.
    Ben Christopher, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
  • Iran has used those magic words several times in recent years, including this past week.
    Robin Wright, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Play With Bunny Ears That funny Easter bunny is certainly leaving his mark this year.
    Laura Fenton, Parents, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Her moment of realization was heart-wrenching (and funny) and turned both into reality-TV heavyweights.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Weird.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weird. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

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