outlandish

adjective

ˌau̇t-ˈlan-dish How to pronounce outlandish (audio)
Definition of outlandishnext
1
as in bizarre
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion an outlandish outfit made entirely out of bottle caps

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exotic
excitingly or mysteriously unusual the outlandish tribal rituals that astonished early explorers of that land

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word outlandish distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

outlandish fashions of the time

When is it sensible to use eccentric instead of outlandish?

The words eccentric and outlandish 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

In what contexts can erratic take the place of outlandish?

Although the words erratic and outlandish have much in common, erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

When can odd be used instead of outlandish?

In some situations, the words odd and outlandish are roughly equivalent. However, odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

When would peculiar be a good substitute for outlandish?

While the synonyms peculiar and outlandish are close in meaning, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

When could quaint be used to replace outlandish?

The meanings of quaint and outlandish largely overlap; however, quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

When is singular a more appropriate choice than outlandish?

The words singular and outlandish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

Where would strange be a reasonable alternative to outlandish?

While in some cases nearly identical to outlandish, strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

When might unique be a better fit than outlandish?

The synonyms unique and outlandish 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 outlandish Lowry was not the lone player who offered critiques of the course setup, but his were by far and away the most outlandish. —Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026 Lehmann considers the contested history of Anne Boleyn, the outlandish accusations against her, and the ways in which her image has been erased and changed over time. —Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 14 May 2026 This send-off mixes new stunts with archival footage, promising the usual outlandish pranks and blunt-force impacts to sensitive bodily regions. —Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026 GameStop’s outlandish proposal comes amid something of a revival at eBay, which has pushed to reinvent itself in the face of rising competition from the likes of Walmart, Amazon, Shein and Facebook Marketplace. —Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for outlandish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outlandish
  1. bizarre
  2. exotic
  3. strange
  4. romantic
  5. funny
  6. weird
  7. odd
  8. erratic
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
  • Hence these might require the use of exotic materials like ceramic matrix composites or carbon fibers (which have melting temperatures around 3,500 K).
    — adityajadhav, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
  • While they are admired for their beauty, The Wildcat Sanctuary says that fascination fuels the exotic pet trade and private ownership.
    — WCCO Staff, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Definition of exotic
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
  • While walking the carpet, which marked a fun outing for the longtime married couple and music collaborators, Chris showed his romantic affection towards his wife of nearly 20 years.
    — Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
  • This is complicity spurred on by a certain kind of Western readers desire to maintain their romantic image of Russia’s past without having to engage critical with Russia’s present.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
Definition of romantic
Adjective
  • Jon Rahm is one of the best handful of golfers in the world, and, in media availability and his infrequent YouTube golf appearances, is thoughtful, funny and personable.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
  • Semple’s writing is warm and absurdly funny but also occasionally devastating—as when, roughly midway through the book, Adora digresses into recalling her experiences writing for a comedy show in the 1990s.
    — The Atlantic, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Definition of funny
Adjective
  • Tom always found something deeper, more creative, more thoughtful, weird, fun & unique.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 18 May 2026
  • So that’s weird for Kickstarter.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 18 May 2026
Definition of weird
Adjective
  • And maybe hold a parallel history of travel and displacement in some odd way?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
  • The episode included Colbert reminiscing on some odd and unfortunate moments from filming The Late Show, and the host chatting with some of his staff about their roles on the show.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 19 May 2026
Definition of odd
Adjective
  • Price Outlook Cotton prices continued to move higher over the past month, but the pattern has become more erratic.
    — SJ Guest Editorial, Footwear News, 18 May 2026
  • Technology cycles are shorter, markets are more erratic and competition is becoming more worldwide.
    — Raheel Sheikh, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Definition of erratic

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outlandish
outlands
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Cite this Entry

“Outlandish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outlandish. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on outlandish

Nglish: Translation of outlandish for Spanish Speakers

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