singular

adjective

ˈsiŋ-gyə-lər How to pronounce singular (audio)
Definition of singularnext
1
as in extraordinary
being out of the ordinary the novelist's singular command of the language makes her a compelling voice in contemporary fiction

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unusual
noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced appearing on the game show has been the most singular experience of my life

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3
as in personal
of, relating to, or belonging to a single person preserving our national heritage is not a singular responsibility but our collective duty

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4
as in only
being the one or ones of a class with no other members this crime was a singular case, and using it as a reason for revising the criminal code would be ill-advised

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word singular distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

a singular feeling of impending disaster

In what contexts can eccentric take the place of singular?

While in some cases nearly identical to singular, 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 singular?

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

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

When might odd be a better fit than singular?

The meanings of odd and singular largely overlap; however, odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

When is outlandish a more appropriate choice than singular?

Although the words outlandish and singular have much in common, outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

Where would peculiar be a reasonable alternative to singular?

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

the peculiar status of America's first lady

When is it sensible to use quaint instead of singular?

The synonyms quaint and singular are sometimes interchangeable, but quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

When would strange be a good substitute for singular?

The words strange and singular can be used in similar contexts, but strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

When can unique be used instead of singular?

In some situations, the words unique and singular are roughly equivalent. However, 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 singular The images that come from her head are so unique and singular. —Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026 The solution is simple and singular. —Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 11 Feb. 2026 The friendship shelf theory isn’t about bumping people up or down based on singular events. —Rebecca Fearn, SELF, 10 Feb. 2026 As Target’s singular merchandising chief, she is expected to strengthen and expand the retailer’s authority in style and design through its merchandising capabilities, product development, assortment design and partner collaborations. —Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for singular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for singular
  1. extraordinary
  2. unusual
  3. personal
  4. only
  5. unique
  6. uncommon
  7. subjective
  8. one
Adjective
  • Memory chipmakers have also seen extraordinary surges due to expectations for the AI buildout to boost demand for data storage.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Private schools, particularly Catholic schools, have demonstrated extraordinary success — even in communities struggling with poverty.
    — Paul Vallas, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of extraordinary
Adjective
  • That unusual role for a spy chief raised additional questions from Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees.
    — DAVID KLEPPER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
  • What was unusual, in Lublin’s view, was for Bessent to reveal his thoughts on monetary policy — normally the purview of the Federal Reserve — and his insistence that Trump has the right to interfere with the decision-making of the central bank.
    — Fatima Hussein, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • Everyone’s personal experience of the pizza, or of the healing, or of the spiritual awakening, Gilbert said, was going to be completely different.
    — Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
  • The service Smiling, friendly, and personal.
    — Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2026
Definition of personal
Adjective
  • Long before his sermons, the bling, and the criminal convictions, Singh was the only son of a landlord in a quiet Rajasthan village, according to the group’s website.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Vinatieri was the only one in the class who was a part of the Patriots’ dynasty.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of only
Adjective
  • The spa The spa at Joia Aruba features a hydrotherapy area, a steam room, and seven treatment rooms designed to offer unique sensory experiences.
    — José Cantillo Ferrer, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
  • The organization features a unique ownership mode that included a 2023 community investment campaign where local fans bought a stake in the clubs for anywhere from $100 to $25,000.
    — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of unique
Adjective
  • Those conditions are uncommon, but not unprecedented in the historical record.
    — Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 13 Feb. 2026
  • This is something that is common around young stars that have turbulent and violent environments, but is uncommon for stars as old as ASASSN-24fw, estimated to be around 1 billion years old.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of uncommon
Adjective
  • Participants acknowledge that judging of this kind is by its nature subjective.
    — Time, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Higher intake of caffeinated coffee and tea was associated with lower prevalence of subjective cognitive decline and slightly better objective cognitive performance.
    — Lindsey Leake, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of subjective
Adjective
  • Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan.
    — SI.com, SI.com, 3 Aug. 2019
  • Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive.
    — Johannes Himmelreich, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Mar. 2018
Definition of one

Browse Nearby Words

sings (out)
singular
singularities
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Cite this Entry

“Singular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/singular. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of singular for Spanish Speakers

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