strange

adjective

ˈstrānj How to pronounce strange (audio)
Definition of strangenext
1
as in bizarre
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion the strange smell we'd noticed turned out, unhappily, to be from the dinner our host was making

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exotic
excitingly or mysteriously unusual strange fruits from faraway lands

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unfamiliar
not known or experienced before using public transportation was all very strange to a rural girl like her

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4
as in unusual
noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced a rather strange story about a garden filled with poisonous plants

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word strange distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of strange are eccentric, erratic, odd, outlandish, peculiar, quaint, singular, and unique. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

When might eccentric be a better fit than strange?

The meanings of eccentric and strange largely overlap; however, 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 strange?

The words erratic and strange can be used in similar contexts, but erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

In what contexts can odd take the place of strange?

Although the words odd and strange have much in common, odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

When is it sensible to use outlandish instead of strange?

While in some cases nearly identical to strange, outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

When would peculiar be a good substitute for strange?

The synonyms peculiar and strange are sometimes interchangeable, but peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

When is quaint a more appropriate choice than strange?

In some situations, the words quaint and strange are roughly equivalent. However, quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

Where would singular be a reasonable alternative to strange?

While the synonyms singular and strange are close in meaning, singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

When can unique be used instead of strange?

The words unique and strange are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 strange What a strange, heartbreaking and beautiful world. —David Oliver, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025 The strange power of a three-decade-old song dominating summer playlists is no accident. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025 In the last few years, researchers have stumbled upon baffling signals from deep space, uncovered strange features hiding beneath our oceans, and found clues that hint at life’s secrets on other worlds. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025 Yet even among these strange, hard-to-classify celestial objects, The Accident, located 50 light-years from Earth and believed to be between 10 billion and 12 billion years old, stands out. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for strange
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strange
  1. bizarre
  2. exotic
  3. unfamiliar
  4. unusual
  5. weird
  6. romantic
  7. novel
  8. uncommon
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of bizarre
Adjective
  • This isn't just about exotic imports—we're talking about fundamental ingredients that define American restaurant menus.
    — Phil Lempert, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The video montage showed Sharon and Kelly interacting with exotic birds at Cornwall Falconry in England.
    — Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of exotic
Adjective
  • This foreign and, for many leaders, unfamiliar prioritization of ‘being’ over ‘doing’ requires a profound reorientation.
    — Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The clip shows Britt going to pet Roger, who appears dazed in his unfamiliar surroundings.
    — Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of unfamiliar
Adjective
  • This is an unusual feature for a screen that’s designed for color-critical design tasks.
    — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • When Macron was here, Mick Jagger was there with his girlfriend, which is quite unusual.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • The second reason is that these aura battler designs were very complex and full of curves as well as weird angles.
    — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Things get weird, however, when the lines between science fiction and fantasy start to blur.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of weird
Adjective
  • Indian actor Ahaan Panday makes his debut with the Bollywood film Saiyaara which was hailed as the unofficial third film in Mohit Suri’s hit romantic franchise Aashiqui.
    — Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Text messages to his romantic partner, a transgender male roommate, allegedly include a confession and instructions to delete their exchange.
    — Amanda Castro Hannah Parry Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of romantic
Adjective
  • Universal Pictures has pushed back the release of Other Mommy, its horror film from Atomic Monster, based on the novel Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman (Bird Box).
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025
  • New Therapies Targeting Inflammaging While lifestyle interventions remain fundamental, advances in biomedical research are yielding novel therapies that target the underlying mechanisms of inflammation.
    — William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of novel
Adjective
  • The country’s midterm elections were approaching, and violence around elections was not uncommon.
    — Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
  • 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
Definition of uncommon

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strange
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Cite this Entry

“Strange.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strange. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

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