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 His advice for the incoming rookie class might seem peculiar, but it’s based on his reality, which has led to numerous accolades, including being the Panthers’ 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. —Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2025 In 1923, the dentist trekked across the Rocky Mountains to Oakley, a small town in southern Idaho, to meet with parents who had noticed the peculiar brown stains on their children’s teeth, the CDC says. —Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 12 May 2025 Giving a killer robot killer cheekbones and killer abs, but repeatedly showing us his Ken doll-style absence of genitals, becomes a peculiar piece of world-building that even supplemental dialogue can’t fix. —Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2025 Arteta’s mystery French sources, stings and roundabouts Sunderland, Coventry, Bristol City: Half a century on a peculiar grudge lingers Based in North West England, Matt Slater is a senior football news reporter for The Athletic UK. —Matt Slater, New York Times, 11 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
  • But the boys also casually tell stories about the deprivations of their previous life, a reminder of how unusual their childhoods have been by American standards.
    — Sacha Pfeiffer, NPR, 27 May 2025
  • In an unusual step earlier this month, five former directors of the National Weather Service signed an open letter warning that the Trump administration’s cuts to the weather service and its parent agency NOAA may endanger lives.
    — Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2025
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • Because of this strange clustering, the Atlantic Shark Institute has posted signs around Narragansett alerting beachgoers to be on the lookout.
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • The long strange trip is proving to be even longer than anyone thought.
    — Marco della Cava, USA Today, 22 May 2025
Definition of strange
Adjective
  • Acqui-hires are not uncommon in a competitive tech hiring environment.
    — Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • This is why Daigneault refers to the Thunder as an uncommon group.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Definition of uncommon
Adjective
  • Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 24 May 2025
  • Also covers personal liability, personal belongings, dwelling and other structures and loss of use Does not cover Flood insurance, water damage and mold that has built up slowly over time, high-value personal items Terms apply.
    — Liz Knueven, CNBC, 24 May 2025
Definition of personal
Adjective
  • Now, Robbins is using his whip-smart humor and distinctive social media persona to address a very real problem: the diaper crisis.
    — Erin Lassner, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2025
  • Another series of sweeps beginning around 8,000 years ago gave Eurasians their distinctive pale complexion.
    — Kermit Pattison, Scientific American, 20 May 2025
Definition of distinctive
Adjective
  • By continually adapting to each user’s specific needs, Dysolve’s AI not only identifies these errors but also actively retrains the brain, enhancing the user’s capacity to process and interpret language.
    — Ray Ravaglia, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
  • Many of the criticisms were based on specific designs.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 May 2025
Definition of specific
Adjective
  • The show will feature a wide range of extraordinary cars, trucks, and vehicles along with live music.
    — Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025
  • The film chronicles the extraordinary story of a group of inmates who defied the odds to create a timeless piece of art.
    — DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 22 May 2025
Definition of extraordinary
Adjective
  • Joining me is my Staten Island brother, Pete Davidson, who unveils a darker, dramatic side as his character navigates a bizarre group of residents in an old age home.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 29 May 2025
  • Part of that stems from fewer bizarre storytelling choices (good!), and part of it is a byproduct of an overly cautious attitude toward character development (bad).
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 28 May 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 3 Jun. 2025.

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