odd

adjective

ˈäd How to pronounce odd (audio)
Definition of oddnext
1
as in single
being one of a pair or set without a corresponding mate somehow, there's always at least one odd sock that comes out of the dryer

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2
as in strange
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion odd behavior that prompted one of the waiting passengers to alert airport security

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3
as in unusual
being out of the ordinary the only odd grade for the exam was the one perfect score

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4
as in uncommon
noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced the odd occurrences in the area attracted the attention of people interested in psychic phenomena

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5
as in occasional
not often occurring or repeated with the exception of the odd sick day, he never takes time off from work

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word odd distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

an odd sense of humor

When can eccentric be used instead of odd?

The words eccentric and odd 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

When would erratic be a good substitute for odd?

While the synonyms erratic and odd are close in meaning, erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

When is it sensible to use outlandish instead of odd?

In some situations, the words outlandish and odd are roughly equivalent. However, outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

When is peculiar a more appropriate choice than odd?

While in some cases nearly identical to odd, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

When might quaint be a better fit than odd?

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

a quaint fishing village

Where would singular be a reasonable alternative to odd?

The meanings of singular and odd largely overlap; however, singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

In what contexts can strange take the place of odd?

The words strange and odd are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

When could unique be used to replace odd?

The synonyms unique and odd 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 odd The two odd guys out most nights have been Miles Wood and Jimmy Vesey, in part because the club’s fourth line of Kelly, O’Connor and Jack Drury has played so well. — Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2025 There is something extremely odd about a film which purports to deliver on a promise of unfiltered combat but yet refuses to contextualize either the mission itself or the war in which it is set. — Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 28 Mar. 2025 Unique creatures, odd animals and new species are discovered across the planet. — Stories By Real-Time News Team, With Ai Summarization, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025 The Mountain West got four teams in the bracket, but Boise State was the odd one out despite wins over Clemson and Saint Mary’s. — Tess Demeyer, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for odd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for odd
  1. single
  2. strange
  3. unusual
  4. uncommon
  5. occasional
  6. only
  7. bizarre
  8. extraordinary
Adjective
  • Some are able to do this while only raising a single round of capital.
    — Alex Lazarow, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Secured to the back panel via three sliding screws and a single (knurled) fixing screw, each of the drive bays is individually removable.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 29 Mar. 2025
Definition of single
Adjective
  • Sure, the plot’s kind of a mess, but warrior Alice is an empowering turn while Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter and Helena Bonham Carter’s big-headed Red Queen are splendidly strange.
    — Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
  • This brings to conclusion one of the stranger and more dramatic human spaceflight stories in years.
    — Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of strange
Adjective
  • Separately, just days before the start date, Read made the unusual move of adding an alternate juror from her first trial to her legal team, according to media reports citing court records.
    — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Canvas’s menu feature flavors such as Arabic coffee and karak chai and biscuits, but Al Marri also enjoys experimenting with unusual combinations, looking outside the dessert realm for ideas.
    — Nicola Chilton, AFAR Media, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • For those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, skin reactions like eczema are not uncommon.
    — Lauren O'Connor, MS, Health, 30 Mar. 2025
  • This doesn’t mean that iron jewelry was uncommon during the Viking Age.
    — Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of uncommon
Adjective
  • Changing Preference For Lab-Grown Diamond Jewelry In the case of jewelry purchases, those needs are primarily around milestone life events, holiday and occasional gifting.
    — Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Aside from the occasional cutscene, the game asked players to kill, tirelessly, over and over.
    — Diego Argüello, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of occasional
Adjective
  • Toni wasn't the only sister to pay tribute with a video.
    — Esther Kang, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Jordan Burks had the only double-double of the night for either team, with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
    — Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of only
Adjective
  • But their work didn’t rule out the possibility of bizarre algorithms that could somehow use the same piece of memory for storage and calculations simultaneously—the computing equivalent of using a page filled with important notes as scratch paper.
    — Ben Brubaker, Wired News, 30 Mar. 2025
  • The movie, based on the video game of the same name, centers around four misfits who are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2025
Definition of bizarre
Adjective
  • Unlike many younger trees, this tree exhibits extraordinary adaptations.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Barry has had an extraordinary coaching journey, considering his playing experiences took him no higher than League One, the English game’s third division.
    — Simon Hughes, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of extraordinary

Phrases Containing odd

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odalisques
odd
oddball
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Cite this Entry

“Odd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/odd. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

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