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weird feeling
peculiar feeling
unusual feeling
odd feeling
strange feeling
bizarre feeling
weird noises
mysterious noises
creepy noises
strange noises
bizarre noises
obscure noises
a weird look
an awkward look
a confused look
an uneasy look
an unfamiliar look

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 Caterpillars are known for their fuzzy exterior and sometimes weird behavior. Gayoung Lee, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2025 Nolen is a dominant presence on the interior, but would be a weird fit in Arizona. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025 So those [neoclassical] artists are to me, in a very weird sense, the very earliest photographers—except their medium was oil on canvas. Mark Holgate, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2025 The first sign of Mom Fatigue is leaving weird stuff in the fridge. Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for weird
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weird
Adjective
  • The gay man who was involved in Rep. Nancy Mace’s viral meltdown at an Ulta Beauty store is speaking out about the bizarre incident.
    Abby Monteil, Them., 22 Apr. 2025
  • Even more bizarre was the depth the starlight's dip changed with every transit.
    Victoria Corless, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Speaking of eerie dramas, Nicole Kidman is reprising her role for Season 2 of Hulu’s thriller, Nine Perfect Strangers, arriving on May 22.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
  • Some jumped out of street corners to greet you with a quest and an eerie smile.
    Jamal Michel, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Inevitably, given the length and nature of his absence, Bentaleb has only featured sparingly for Lille since that magical night in Rennes.
    Tom Williams, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
  • The love planet will also conjunct Neptune on May 2, adding a magical, almost surreal quality to these connections.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Although not musicians, the Goldbergs quickly realized there was something unusual about their 3-year-old boy.
    Steve Rothaus, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2025
  • For one group of six girls living in Waterloo, Canada, their lives took an unusual turn when a couple of very territorial geese decided to claim their front lawn as their own.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • And the misfortune is in our participation in that strange loop.
    Akilah Sailers, Essence, 28 Apr. 2025
  • The wish is revealing—strange and sad, and haunting in ways the biography cannot quite accommodate.
    Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The director also discussed his approach to specific technical elements, including a haunting, silent earthquake scene that was designed not to trigger audiences who had experienced actual seismic events.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Dennis Quaid is set to mark a haunting role in his filmography: Playing a serial killer.
    Vincent Perella, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s a magic trick to building a story around the villain, and if justice is the endgame, it really should be doled out expeditiously; otherwise, the narrative loses its moral authority of fundamental opposition to its central character.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Dimbleby’s age, far from a liability, feels like a magic trick—rare is the podcast host in 2025 who can casually weave socioeconomics together with personal memories of the Second World War.
    Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • What’s funny about that is that Alexander appears to have some Leonard Williams to his game.
    Charlotte Carroll, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Not lying and not funny, but not to be ignored either.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Weird.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weird. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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