1
as in bizarre
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion
the night watchman calls the police if he notices any out-of-the-way activity taking place during his shift
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unusual
noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced
there was nothing out-of-the-way about the hitchhiker's appearance that might arouse suspicion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
out of the way
2 of 2phrase
1
as in up
brought or having come to an end
Now that we've got the first step out of the way it's time to start phase two.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
They hoped he wouldn't say anything out of the way at the party.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of out-of-the-way
Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2025
And Beekman Place, the tiny, out-of-the-way East River enclave favored by the old-money crowd since Shipman and her society cohort transformed it into a fashionable spot in the 1920s, largely fell out of favor around 2000.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 22 Sep. 2025
My eye was arrested by a couple of pairs in a stunning new shade, the purple of wisteria, sitting on an almost-out-of-the-way shelf.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025
The out-of-the-way, squat brick building is appropriately dark inside, but clean and fairly spacious.
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for out-of-the-way
Adjective
As for where to decorate, focus on your TV stand, end tables, and kitchen table, the most high-traffic but out-of-the-way areas.
—Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2025
And Beekman Place, the tiny, out-of-the-way East River enclave favored by the old-money crowd since Shipman and her society cohort transformed it into a fashionable spot in the 1920s, largely fell out of favor around 2000.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 22 Sep. 2025
My eye was arrested by a couple of pairs in a stunning new shade, the purple of wisteria, sitting on an almost-out-of-the-way shelf.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025
The out-of-the-way, squat brick building is appropriately dark inside, but clean and fairly spacious.
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for out-of-the-way
Recent Examples of Synonyms for out-of-the-way
Adjective
-
In that sense, the content lives to its title as a collection of larger-than-life bizarre elements.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Minutes before his interview started, Cutler, alone in the interview room, had done something completely bizarre.—
Marcelena Spencer,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But with this unusual warmth, Greene warns even that may not be enough.—
Callie Zanandrie,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
As Southern California’s unusual March heat wave continues, several daily temperature records were broken across the region on Wednesday, March 18.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
One thing was clear from the beginning — these strange objects were common.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
17 Mar. 2026
-
It was written by Nicki Cortese and follows a man (Goggins) who wakes up in a strange house covered in blood and comes to realize his true identity while fighting off contract killers from his past, which includes everyone from his exes to his best friend.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Beneath the vines lie calcareous clay and limestone—formations uncommon in California and long associated with Bordeaux’s historic Cabernet vineyards.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The species typically grows in grasslands that have been gently managed over long periods and support diverse wildlife — habitats where decades of light intervention create conditions for uncommon species to take hold.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
What made this Aztecs season unusually weird?—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
-
That is a super weird way to descend an A-frame net.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Accidentally running face-first into your mom’s butt is funny, no matter your species.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
20 Mar. 2026
-
At work, while reporting near a looming tornado, Clark meets Floyd (played with a touching, funny pathos by David Harbour), a sign-language interpreter.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Scott worked odd jobs for Serafini and his wife, including working as a nanny for the couple’s two small children.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Take Manchester City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma and the odd foot fetish his critics displayed in their evaluations of him, despite his talent for keeping the ball out of the net.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Bipartisan Policy Center, a centrist think tank, says noncitizen voting is rare and that the bill would create barriers to voting.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The Justice Department charged a Chinese student at the University of Michigan with illegally voting in the 2024 election in a rare exception; the student, Haoxiang Gao, fled the country after he was charged.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Out-of-the-way.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/out-of-the-way. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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