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Synonym Chooser

How is the word erratic distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of erratic are eccentric, odd, outlandish, peculiar, quaint, singular, strange, and unique. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

When is eccentric a more appropriate choice than erratic?

The words eccentric and erratic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

When can odd be used instead of erratic?

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

an odd sense of humor

When could outlandish be used to replace erratic?

The words outlandish and erratic can be used in similar contexts, but outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

Where would peculiar be a reasonable alternative to erratic?

Although the words peculiar and erratic have much in common, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

In what contexts can quaint take the place of erratic?

While in some cases nearly identical to erratic, quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

When might singular be a better fit than erratic?

In some situations, the words singular and erratic are roughly equivalent. However, singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

When would strange be a good substitute for erratic?

While the synonyms strange and erratic are close in meaning, strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

When is it sensible to use unique instead of erratic?

The synonyms unique and erratic 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 erratic Just standing up sends her pulse racing, the heart monitor in her Apple Watch warning of a dangerously erratic heartbeat. Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025 These trends are echoed in the Reuters/Ipsos poll, which revealed that 57 percent of Americans think Trump's moves to shake up the U.S. economy have been too erratic. Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025 Watkins was a raw, though scratchy, wide forward, prolific at youth team level but erratic in his overall game. Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025 In short, a willful, erratic and heedless president is prepared to risk both the U.S. and global economy to make his ideological point. Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for erratic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for erratic
Adjective
  • Cherry rues the random nature of these instances of trauma, which explode only to be forgotten five minutes later, subsumed beneath the next crisis.
    Sam Worley, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Choosing a random cabin location Choose your cabin location with careful consideration and a strategic approach.
    Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Over the previous few weeks, the defenseman’s playing time was sporadic, scratched for five of seven games.
    Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
  • In the past, such events were sporadic, occurring once every four or five years.
    Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The esoteric will never sit completely comfortably in the mainstream, because that’s the point of it: to be unusual, bizarre, absurd.
    Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The Big Read The Story Of Climate-Friendly Digital Bank Aspiration Just Got Stranger The fintech industry has seen its fair share of spectacular failures and bizarre plot twists in recent years.
    Alan Ohnsman, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
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
  • This year, the star has teased new music, sharing occasional studio photos on Instagram.
    Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Nationally, learning loss recovery has been slow and uneven, especially among students of color, Axios' Russell Contreras reported.
    Chrissy Suttles, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The debut season also followed journeyman quarterback Marcus Mariota's uneven run with the Atlanta Falcons.
    Chantz Martin, Fox News, 19 Mar. 2025
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
  • The movie business and the television business are strange.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The user is urged to visit a website and pay an arbitrary toll amount to avoid a $50 fine.
    Dan Avery, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2025
  • His morning rants and arbitrary policies only harm the economy.
    Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Roughly 164 were returned to non-pay intermittent status, while the rest were returned to paid administrative leave.
    Ashley Murray, Baltimore Sun, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The 2025 season opener in Australia was an intense race for all F1 teams considering the intermittent rainfall that led them to shift tire strategies according to the varying conditions.
    Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Erratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/erratic. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

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