1
as in unusual
being out of the ordinary
a writer with a peculiar talent for capturing the feel of everyday conversation
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2
as in strange
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion
a peculiar and catlike way of walking
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3
as in uncommon
noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced
a peculiar response to a polite query about his health
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4
as in personal
of, relating to, or belonging to a single person
his peculiar way of talking
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5
as in distinctive
serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group
the koala is peculiar to Australia
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6
as in specific
of a particular or exact sort
a psychopathic killer who took peculiar delight in torturing his victims
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of peculiar
Given the peculiar recent musings of provocateurs like Tucker Carlson, the speech was timelier than ever.
—
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
This one is admittedly peculiar, but beloved in and around its hometown of Lexington, North Carolina, the epicenter of western-style NC barbecue.
—Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2025
Most of the detailed reporting about Chaplin was focussed on the peculiar state of his reputation.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
The peculiar departure of Pius Suter, given the cost, only adds to that.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for peculiar
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
This one is admittedly peculiar, but beloved in and around its hometown of Lexington, North Carolina, the epicenter of western-style NC barbecue.
—Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2025
Most of the detailed reporting about Chaplin was focussed on the peculiar state of his reputation.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
The peculiar departure of Pius Suter, given the cost, only adds to that.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for peculiar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peculiar
Adjective
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This is an unusual feature for a screen that’s designed for color-critical design tasks.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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When Macron was here, Mick Jagger was there with his girlfriend, which is quite unusual.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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At the heart of the discovery lies one of quantum mechanics’ strangest features — uncertainty.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Sep. 2025
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The combination of climbing around this strange building and having heard the almost legendary stories about Karl-Göran was evocative and haunting.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The country’s midterm elections were approaching, and violence around elections was not uncommon.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
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Adam Goldstein of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression said that’s not uncommon, and all experts agreed the number of people participating in this effort is largely unheard of.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Celebrity contestants are taking the stage with personal anthem performances, launching a new season of competition and fan voting.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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As the Color of the Year phenomenon continues to drive kitchen design trends, with brands like KitchenAid announcing their own shade annually, consumers are increasingly reaching for colorful cookware as a way to express their personal style.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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There’s no barbecue in Georgia quite like Fresh Air’s, and no restaurant better represents the state’s storied and distinctive style.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
17 Sep. 2025
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The brands that survive won’t be the most polished—they’ll be the most distinctive.—
Erik Huberman,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital screened 3,508 patients with stage I, II, or III rectal cancer or stage II or III colon cancer, finding that 1,103 of these people had a specific variant in the PI3K pathway – the genetic marker of interest.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
18 Sep. 2025
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Pillars of the Green Transition, which is set to take place next Wednesday, will bring specific case studies on energy storage, food systems and bioenergy to audiences at the magazine's New York headquarters.—
Katherine Fung,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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These systems offer extraordinary capabilities for climate modeling, resource optimization and ecological monitoring.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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But parents still have extraordinary power and influence to help their sons navigate the confusing digital messaging onslaught found on their social media feeds.—
Ashleigh N. DeLuca,
Parents,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But everything changes when a string of gruesome killings—which grow increasingly bizarre, with victims covered in rashes and found in deranged, violent states—involves his young daughter Hyo-jin (Kim Hwan-hee).—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Paxton’s interest in Paul’s plight was bizarre, obsessive and so far beyond normal operations at the attorney general’s office that the agency’s top officials struggled to convey their concerns during the hourslong meeting with two FBI agents.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Peculiar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peculiar. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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