weird

adjective

ˈwird How to pronounce weird (audio)
Definition of weirdnext
1
as in bizarre
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion always has a somewhat weird opinion of what's happening in the news

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in eerie
fearfully and mysteriously strange or fantastic weird sounds from the woods just beyond our campsite

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3
as in magical
having seemingly supernatural qualities or powers a self-styled, contemporary witch, she sells herbal mixtures that she claims are weird potions

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4
as in unusual
noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced a weird little plant that we found growing in the garden

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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 There are a lot of weird interpretations like this in the final rounds. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 28 July 2026 The center has the same weird jack-o’-lantern-esque façade and forgettable restaurants and hotels. — Jason Karlawish, STAT, 28 July 2026 Detective Agent Derek is billed as a prestige cop show filtered through the internet’s weirdest subcultures. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 28 July 2026 That’s a weird way to suddenly have the world respond to you. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for weird
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weird
  1. bizarre
  2. eerie
  3. magical
  4. unusual
  5. strange
  6. haunting
  7. magic
  8. funny
Adjective
  • Whatever ends up coming for Alpha, with their TV fragmented into a billion tiny screens, it’s bound to be bizarre.
    — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Harrison Bader's San Francisco Giants season has ended prematurely due to a bizarre scooter accident.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of bizarre
Adjective
  • Seeing an old bulky PC with a PC-DOS command line OS takes those of us of a certain age back to the heady days when computers were exciting and new, even though they had not yet been endowed with the eerie cognitive powers of LLMs.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • The ascent to Les Angles was eerie and airy, Pogačar outkicking Vingegaard to take yellow and his first of five stages in this edition.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of eerie
Adjective
  • His exploration into this magical world leads him to an eccentric old man called the Chicken Man (Johnson), and his elderly chicken companion Claudia.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 31 July 2026
  • The answer awaits at a tiny, magical shop on the Upper East Side.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of magical
Adjective
  • Ultimately, both sides are jockeying for power after the war, given the unusual uncertainty brought on by the change in the supreme leadership.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Some reported magnetic order, unusual Hall effects, and efficient spin-charge conversion, while others found no evidence of magnetism in bulk crystals or relaxed thin films.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • That strange sense of incompletion hung over the Detroit Tigers’ clubhouse Saturday night.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Having collaborated with his parents since the late 1980s, Berenstain was no stranger to furthering the family legacy.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of strange
Adjective
  • Their voyage transforms into a haunting meditation on exile, longing and the elusive promise of belonging.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 30 July 2026
  • Despite lingering radiation, Pripyat draws photographers and history enthusiasts eager to witness one of the most complete—and haunting—portraits of a city abruptly frozen.
    — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 27 July 2026
Definition of haunting
Adjective
  • Odysseus blinds the Cyclops and escapes Circe with the help of a magic herb, but not before losing some of his men.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • There are of course wands, with some of the most exclusive ones contained in glass cabinets surrounded by multi-colored glass potion bottles, magic books and test tubes.
    — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of magic
Adjective
  • Gu-cheon is arrogant, conspicuously misplaced in the palace hierarchy, and in some sneaky ways, dryly funny, in stark contrast to co-star Roh Yoon Seo’s more determined, earnest portrayal of court lady Saeng Gang.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • That ethos bled into the script read, which saw the crew assembled take swings with the material and inject a bit more comedy into the already funny original film.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 29 July 2026
Definition of funny

Phrases Containing weird

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weird
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on weird

Nglish: Translation of weird for Spanish Speakers

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