Definition of weirdnext
1
2
3
4

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 That means understanding space, motion, force, friction, weird shapes and materials, awkward lighting, and everything else that humans — and other organics — tend to grasp instinctively. Robert Hart, The Verge, 29 May 2026 Was this one of the weirdest, wildest no-hitters ever? Jayson Stark, New York Times, 29 May 2026 Physicists put a single chunk of metal into two places at once, the largest object ever shown to obey quantum mechanics’ weirdest rule. Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 29 May 2026 That whole weird indie movie wave that popped off like 2006, 2007, and 2008, all that, those soundtracks became soundtracks to my life. Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for weird
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weird
Adjective
  • That’s just a really bizarre back and forth to exist in.
    Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 31 May 2026
  • As the story builds toward a violent showdown between the mourners and the town, the reader will be entranced by its surreal language and bizarre logic.
    Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • Decades after Julian’s vanishing there, the band and various hangers-on recall eerie incidents both in and out of the house—rooms full of occult literature; pub full of haunting photographs—as well as the glimmering stranger circling the Orpheus-esque Julian.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
  • Three Thresholds To Vet AI The concept of the uncanny valley stems from that eerie feeling people got from seeing early robots that felt too humanlike.
    Praful Saklani, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Adjective
  • But might Haaland or the ageless Messi go on a magical run?
    Greg Cote June 4, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
  • On a blind date, his descriptions of magical griffins and burning deserts sound humiliatingly immature.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Adjective
  • Since arriving at the zoo, the buffalo has attracted large crowds and sparked debate over its unusual nickname.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2026
  • What’s unusual is to see these elements presented so grandly on a stage as big as The Bushnell’s and presented in a manner that doesn’t compromise a dark tale of anger, revenge, dangerous romance, desperation and survival.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026
Adjective
  • The author could herself be considered predatorial, having written her own children in as the books’ protagonists, saddling them with a strange kind of fame.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
  • This strange occurrence echoes what happened at the top of the dot-com bubble 26 years ago.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 2 June 2026
Adjective
  • But in Soni’s careful translation, the repetitions and subtle variation of Verma’s poems also achieve a haunting, transcendental resonance.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
  • The ways the siblings cope with their versions of reality are quite different, quite haunting and quite thought-provoking.
    Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Adjective
  • Speaking of YouTube, the world’s biggest streaming platform is also with us today, as five of its top creators/producers/hosts discuss the magic sauce of making their popular shows.
    The Deadline Team, Deadline, 30 May 2026
  • The moment is going to feel like a small magic trick.
    Vivian Toh, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
Adjective
  • Some of these flourishes are jarringly funny, others merely stop the film momentarily in its tracks.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 June 2026
  • People being all excited to be in an alliance that doesn't actually exist shouldn't be funny.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Weird.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weird. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on weird

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster