odd

adjective

ˈäd How to pronounce odd (audio)
Definition of oddnext
1
as in single
being one of a pair or set without a corresponding mate somehow, there's always at least one odd sock that comes out of the dryer

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2
as in strange
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion odd behavior that prompted one of the waiting passengers to alert airport security

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3
as in unusual
being out of the ordinary the only odd grade for the exam was the one perfect score

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4
as in uncommon
noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced the odd occurrences in the area attracted the attention of people interested in psychic phenomena

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5
as in occasional
not often occurring or repeated with the exception of the odd sick day, he never takes time off from work

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word odd distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of odd are eccentric, erratic, outlandish, peculiar, quaint, singular, strange, and unique. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

When can eccentric be used instead of odd?

The words eccentric and odd can be used in similar contexts, but eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

When would erratic be a good substitute for odd?

While the synonyms erratic and odd are close in meaning, erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

When is it sensible to use outlandish instead of odd?

In some situations, the words outlandish and odd are roughly equivalent. However, outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

When is peculiar a more appropriate choice than odd?

While in some cases nearly identical to odd, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

When might quaint be a better fit than odd?

Although the words quaint and odd have much in common, quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

Where would singular be a reasonable alternative to odd?

The meanings of singular and odd largely overlap; however, singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

In what contexts can strange take the place of odd?

The words strange and odd are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

When could unique be used to replace odd?

The synonyms unique and odd are sometimes interchangeable, but unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel.

a career unique in the annals of science

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 odd When Mercury meets Uranus, an odd concept could turn into the most interesting thing in the room. —Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2026 German media described him as an odd communicator with unusual training habits. —Carl Anka, New York Times, 17 May 2026 Kindness, restraint, tact and emotional intelligence will, on the odd occasion, outprioritize full transparency. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026 In an odd coincidence that shows how much this kind of story was burning to be told, two movies debuting at major festivals this past year have both depicted the same unlikely gay romance — one involving gritty, hardworking professional truckers living on the road. —Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for odd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for odd
  1. single
  2. strange
  3. unusual
  4. uncommon
  5. occasional
  6. only
  7. bizarre
  8. extraordinary
Adjective
  • Upon arrival, officers located a person with a single gunshot wound.
    — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
  • By the time Yohel Pozo hit a walk-off single in the 11th inning, the Lumberjacks had other fans — and even the mascot Fredbird — joining in on the ruckus.
    — Warren Mayes, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2026
Definition of single
Adjective
  • They were considered to have strange physical afflictions or weak mental attitudes, and some people with endocrine diseases were even dismissed as ‘freaks’ and heckled in circuses or locked away in institutions.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
  • So yes, there was a kind of resistance, because the film and the script could seem strange, and some people wanted to normalize it, to fit it into a genre.
    — Roberto Prieto, Variety, 19 May 2026
Definition of strange
Adjective
  • The Sun forms a cazimi with Mercury in Taurus in your 3rd House of Communication, illuminating messages, conversations, errands, and daily decisions with unusual clarity.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
  • The unusual move would allow the administration to bypass a public bidding process, relying on a deal for engineering services already underway at the White House.
    — Sarah Blaskey, Washington Post, 14 May 2026
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • All the craft is in humble service of a screenplay uncommon for its faith in the power of language and communication to transform and to console.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 15 May 2026
  • The Sun forms a cazimi with Mercury in Taurus in your 1st House of Self, helping your words, choices, and presence align with uncommon clarity.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
Definition of uncommon
Adjective
  • The concentrated schedule created a sense of occasion and urgency that is diluted when games are spread across Thursdays, occasional Wednesdays, Friday holidays, Saturday nights, Sunday mornings and multiple streaming-exclusive windows.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
  • This is a play that takes young people and their problems seriously, while incorporating occasional humor into the script and direction.
    — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Definition of occasional
Adjective
  • Barring an Eric Swalwell-style blow-up, the top three — Becerra, Steyer and Hilton — are really the only true contenders.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
  • Scheffler has struggled with opening rounds for most of the year since opening with a 63 in his season debut at The American Express, his only victory.
    — Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2026
Definition of only
Adjective
  • That is pretty bizarre, given how fantastic both atmospheres have been throughout the playoffs.
    — Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 17 May 2026
  • Rather than representing a bizarre evolutionary innovation unique to salamanders, regeneration may actually reflect an ancient trait that many vertebrates once possessed more broadly.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Definition of bizarre
Adjective
  • Nowhere is this truer than in Russia, a nation marked by a long history of political repression alongside extraordinary literary brilliance, a rare and uneasy combination.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
  • In the dark tunnels of an active mine near Timmins, Ontario, something extraordinary is leaking out of the Earth.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 May 2026
Definition of extraordinary

Browse Nearby Words

odalisques
odd
oddball
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Cite this Entry

“Odd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/odd. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on odd

Nglish: Translation of odd for Spanish Speakers

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