peculiar

adjective

pi-ˈkyül-yər How to pronounce peculiar (audio)
Definition of peculiarnext
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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Synonym Chooser

How is the word peculiar distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

the peculiar status of America's first lady

In what contexts can eccentric take the place of peculiar?

While in some cases nearly identical to peculiar, eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

When could erratic be used to replace peculiar?

The words erratic and peculiar are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

When is odd a more appropriate choice than peculiar?

The synonyms odd and peculiar are sometimes interchangeable, but odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

When would outlandish be a good substitute for peculiar?

The meanings of outlandish and peculiar largely overlap; however, outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

When is it sensible to use quaint instead of peculiar?

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

a quaint fishing village

Where would singular be a reasonable alternative to peculiar?

The words singular and peculiar can be used in similar contexts, but singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

When can strange be used instead of peculiar?

In some situations, the words strange and peculiar are roughly equivalent. However, 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 peculiar?

While the synonyms unique and peculiar are close in meaning, 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 peculiar The peculiar threat of both violence and taking formal employment measures could be one more piece of evidence for prosecutors seeking to show how Combs allegedly used his work as part of a criminal enterprise. —Adam Reiss, NBC news, 30 May 2025 Ellis gets into minor tussles and side hustles with peculiar characters with names like The Blade and Sunglasses (the latter of whom is played by a pitch-perfect Patrick Warburton as an Elvis-worshipping mobster who works out of a bowling alley named Great Bowls of Fire). —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 May 2025 The theory suggests a peculiar process occurs near the event horizon — the point of no return — around black holes. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 15 May 2025 The findings not only elucidated the peculiar origins of some cats’ charismatic coloration, but also revealed new insights about a familiar gene. —Amanda Schupak, CNN Money, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for peculiar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peculiar
  1. unusual
  2. strange
  3. uncommon
  4. personal
  5. distinctive
  6. specific
  7. extraordinary
  8. bizarre
Adjective
  • Hamas issued an unusual warning about another hostage, Matan Zangauker, saying Israel's military had surrounded the area where he's held and that any harm that came to him during a rescue attempt would be Israel's responsibility.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 June 2025
  • The unusual incident was documented on a Reddit page dedicated to all things Walmart.
    — Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 8 June 2025
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • The Dominican Republic had a moment of its own to celebrate in the 51st minute, though its first-ever Gold Cup goal came in strange circumstances.
    — Jon Arnold, New York Times, 15 June 2025
  • That made eating food feel physically overwhelming, which has been one of the stranger parts of his experience.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 14 June 2025
Definition of strange
Adjective
  • Disagreeing with your boss is not uncommon, but there are ways to make your criticism stick without involving others—in this case, the American public.
    — Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Michael Goldfarb, an employment attorney and CEO of Guardian HR, told Newsweek that the scenario described in the Reddit post is not uncommon.
    — Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
Definition of uncommon
Adjective
  • The deceptive advertisement asks for personal information, including your full name, license plate number, and the last five digits of the vehicle registration number.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
  • Forty company executives received personal security, with one executive who received threats dying her hair and moving into another home out of fear for her safety, according to the filing.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
Definition of personal
Adjective
  • However, that distinctive green bottle of Curve with its gold lettering remains vivid in my mind’s eye, and its contents continue to tell his story.
    — Stixx Mathews, Essence, 13 June 2025
  • There’s also an oasis-like 2,500-square-foot Sisley spa, with distinctive touches including a regenerative salt wall.
    — Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 13 June 2025
Definition of distinctive
Adjective
  • North American availability and pricing haven't been officially confirmed for this specific edition, but estimates based on potential importation suggest a possible starting point slightly over US $180,000.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 June 2025
  • None of the companies had any comment on specific deals.
    — Allison Lampert, USA Today, 14 June 2025
Definition of specific
Adjective
  • This extraordinary high-altitude migration highlights the their unique physiological adaptations, offering valuable insight into how animals can evolve to overcome extreme environmental challenges.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
  • But Madigan’s extraordinary four days of testimony, in the end, weren’t enough.
    — Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2025
Definition of extraordinary
Adjective
  • The bizarre blackouts are first explained with a bizarre hit-and-run that shook Larkin months earlier.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 June 2025
  • To some, this may sound bizarre, laughable, or even just plain sad.
    — Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 June 2025
Definition of bizarre

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Cite this Entry

“Peculiar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peculiar. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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