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 The constant interviews, sideline shenanigans and weird rules completely detract from the action on the field. Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026 Which is a weird red flag, right? Laura House, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026 Mars is the weirdest planet in the solar system. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2026 Kurstin makes things smoother, shinier, and less weird than Fly Lo might — not necessarily a bad thing. Will Hermes, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for weird
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weird
Adjective
  • Bischoff found the whole situation bizarre.
    Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • The results were colorful, bursting with shapes and patterns, but often totally bizarre.
    Gabe Montesanti, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Sam’s silhouette is backlit by alternating reds and blues that evoke police lights (designed by Maximo Grano De Oro) while sound designer Satya Chávez contributes an eerie soundscape.
    Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Set against the eerie backdrop of a remote forest in Germany, the story follows a group of young Americans from the beauty and fashion industry attending a wellness retreat.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • There, the cast also took time to help Thomas learn the wand dance that is seen on stage, which is supposed to show how the new students at the magical school are learning how to operate their wands.
    Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Mount Fuji’s westerly location means that clear nights offer spectacular sunsets, the sun dipping behind the peak, but sunrise is equally as magical, when the first rays cast their light on the cone.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The barbed fact is that the woman caught in the middle of this unusual male arrangement benefits from none of their newfound emotional enlightenment.
    Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Trent Richardson and Saquon Barkley are the only running backs who have been drafted in the top three picks in the last two decades of the NFL draft, but Jeremiyah Love joins that group as the Cardinals take the unusual move of drafting a back this high.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Getty Images With five weeks of Europe’s biggest domestic league seasons left to play, all kinds of strange scorelines are starting to roll in.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
  • The end of kayfabe brought about a strange artistic flourishing—wrestling postmodernism.
    Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • While its 209-minute runtime may be daunting, the film moves along at an entertaining clip (thanks in part to master editor Thelma Schoonmaker), and the viewer's patience is rewarded with a haunting conclusion that recontextualizes all that came before.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026
  • The 2019 overdose death of aspiring personal trainer Cody McLaury was found to have a haunting connection to Perry.
    Jack Hannah, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Jordan Clarkson calls it magic.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
  • The broth the flautas are served in is magic, sipped straight from the bowl.
    USA TODAY NETWORK, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Ike is also just so funny at playing desperate characters like Benny or Morgan Tookers on The Mindy Project.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
  • That’s funny, because even though kids are on Chromebooks all day, most of them aren’t learning how to type!
    Austin Elias-de Jesus, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Weird.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weird. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

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