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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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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strange land
surreal land
foreign land
unknown land
strange feelings
peculiar feelings
bizarre feelings
odd feelings
unusual feelings
weird feelings
strange behavior
bizarre behavior
suspicious behavior
odd behavior
unusual behavior
unexpected behavior
strange noises
unusual noises
scary noises
curious noises
peculiar noises
disturbing noises

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 Republicans should also get over their strange allergy to cutting the capital gains tax. —Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025 The mammal’s skull, however, was strange compared with those of both its predecessors and later relatives. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025 Which is strange, considering Los Angeles is still ostensibly the home of our industry. —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025 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 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
  • The bizarre purchase was revealed last year by the former Lakers player, and the topic was recently brought up during the season 6 finale of The Kardashians.
    — Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Weezer has not canceled its plans to perform at Coachella this Saturday (April 12) after the wife of Weezer bassist Scott Shriner sustained non-life-threatening injuries during a bizarre run-in with Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers that ended in a dramatic shootout.
    — Dave Brooks, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of bizarre
Adjective
  • The driver of the exotic sports car fled the scene and is still outstanding.
    — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Throughout the video, recurring images of exotic flowers interrupt long stretches of darkness.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of exotic
Adjective
  • Britton Moore stepped into unfamiliar territory during The Voice Season 27 Knockouts — and came out with a win.
    — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Understandably, the team felt a degree of apprehension due to the focus on acquiring new clients in an unfamiliar market, which marked a departure from our traditional operations.
    — Lori Huss, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of unfamiliar
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
  • The whole thing, from the player’s point of view, must be deeply weird.
    — Rory Smith, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
  • That definitely comes out of my work on Freud—and, in a weird way, René Girard, who’s anti-Freudian, but there’s a lot in common.
    — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of weird
Adjective
  • Sports events, issues with your kids and romantic matters also might surprise you.
    — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2025
  • There's something romantic about the sight of flowers languidly cascading over the sides of pots.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of romantic
Adjective
  • Giving consumers an authentic, memorable, and novel experience that shows how the brand understands the consumer on a deeper level forges a connection that can’t be bought.
    — Alison Coleman, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • But Guillory learned something crucial about her evolution as an author while working on her latest novel Flirting Lessons, out April 8.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of novel
Adjective
  • Addressed an issue where all horse saddles were uncommon.
    — Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
  • To be fair, government tech projects are complicated, and overruns aren’t uncommon.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of uncommon

Browse Nearby Words

strands
strange
strangely
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Cite this Entry

“Strange.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strange. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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