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 recent drama between King Charles and Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, has left a lot of the people around them in a very weird position. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 23 Sep. 2026 The Jefferson Airplane psychedelic anthem might seem like a weird audition pick, but the musical connection was instant. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026 Kristen and Annie were nominated for screenplay — this was, like, our weird ragtag group. — Kate Aurthur, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026 On the verge of its first win in Death Valley in 25 years, the Tar Heels instead came from 14 points ahead to lose, 28-20, against Clemson on a wet, weird and utterly disappointing day for the baby blue faithful. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 20 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for weird
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weird
Adjective
  • Appropriated from a John Cale album, the title accurately describes scenes of bloodletting committed by bizarre, scenery-chewing yakuza members, and the energy hovers somewhere around a bloodier-than-baseline Takashi Miike movie from the mid-2000s.
    — Vadim Rizov, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Her family and church life remained opaque, but her bizarre comedic timing and magnetic onscreen presence turned her into everyone’s favorite reality-TV anti-hero.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Ema’s many long walks through the neighborhood are eerie — the screams echo as if from everywhere and nowhere — but there’s a stark beauty lurking behind the death and decay, as if life could come rushing back if enough people wanted to see it.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The trailer finds Depp gray-haired, with a scraggly beard, eerie eyes and thick accent, getting thrown to the ground and arrested.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The Mary Poppins of the novels is often noted for being more mysterious, mercurial and dangerous than her film incarnation, and the adventures in the books are magical, surreal and sometimes frightening.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The film followed the trials of a struggling keyboardist who gets hold of a magical synthesizer, only to lose it and embark on a picaresque journey to get it back.
    — Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Voters are deeply concerned about income disparity but also skeptical about the unusual approach of the billionaire tax.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The incident adds an unusual detail to the growing record of autonomous AI behavior.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The reunion becomes even stranger when Constance prepares for a dark holiday celebration, with Kai Anderson (Evan Peters) from Cult helping decorate a black Christmas tree topped with a pentagram.
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The public wiki case offers a particularly strange example of the problem.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • These numbers are especially haunting because the movement was never only about women.
    — Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
  • However, the area is not going to have a haunting vibe, per Spyropoulos.
    — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • At 86-69, the Cubs magic number to clinch a wild-card berth is two.
    — Gary Schatz, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The Padres tied the Chicago Cubs for the top wild-card spot in the National League at 86-69, a game ahead of Philadelphia, and reduced their magic number for clinching a playoff spot to three.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • And that is a very funny, exploitable premise on its surface.
    — Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
  • On Standby follows Sagit, a 33-year-old airport security screener whose brutally honest view of the world and chaotic personal life turn even the most ordinary interactions into painfully funny disasters.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Weird.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weird. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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