1
as in bizarre
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion
the night watchman calls the police if he notices any out-of-the-way activity taking place during his shift
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unusual
noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced
there was nothing out-of-the-way about the hitchhiker's appearance that might arouse suspicion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
out of the way
2 of 2phrase
1
as in up
brought or having come to an end
Now that we've got the first step out of the way it's time to start phase two.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
They hoped he wouldn't say anything out of the way at the party.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 out-of-the-way
Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026
Empty out cabinets and drawers and set these items aside in an out-of-the-way area.
—Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 24 Apr. 2026
The fun starts when Ben turns up soon after her pack is stolen and insists on offering her replacement gear and breakfast at his out-of-the-way campsite.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
While major cities like Tokyo and Kyoto are on every itinerary, the country offers hidden gems, out-of-the-way experiences, and relatively unknown places to explore.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for out-of-the-way
Adjective
Try them out on an out-of-the-way spot first.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026
Empty out cabinets and drawers and set these items aside in an out-of-the-way area.
—Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 24 Apr. 2026
The fun starts when Ben turns up soon after her pack is stolen and insists on offering her replacement gear and breakfast at his out-of-the-way campsite.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
While major cities like Tokyo and Kyoto are on every itinerary, the country offers hidden gems, out-of-the-way experiences, and relatively unknown places to explore.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for out-of-the-way
Recent Examples of Synonyms for out-of-the-way
Adjective
-
Weird neighbors and increasingly bizarre diversions plague every attempt Nameless Hero makes to get down the stairs of his building to the man who’s standing outside.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
14 June 2026
-
And in a bizarre twist, a criminal investigation has been opened after three dogs were found dead at the travel trailer where mauling victim Jodi Cowan was living at the time of the fatal attack.—
Natasha Holt,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
The lobby is filled with well-to-do patrons, and seeing children in tow is not unusual.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
-
In the case of the female individual, the authors noted an unusual break at the base of the cranium that likely occurred near the time of death.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
The issue at hand – renewing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA – has created strange political bedfellows this year on Capitol Hill, miring lawmakers in a debate pitting privacy against safety while consuming much of Congress' election-year time.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
Brunson answered with one of the strangest makes of his postseason.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
According to the National Cancer Institute, SEF is so uncommon that there is limited data available about treatment for the disease as well as how many people have it.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
-
Turns out, being conflated with the characters one plays is not uncommon, at least for the TV stars gathered at THR‘s Drama Actors Emmy Roundtable.—
Lacey Rose,
HollywoodReporter,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
There’s been a weird weather quirk surrounding the national soccer teams that have made base camps in the Kansas City area.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2026
-
When the series went back to New York, things got weird.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
To work with Ed Asner, at that point, how funny would that have been?—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
12 June 2026
-
There are frequent funny asides and philosophical musings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Inspector Thomas Lynley, eighth earl of Asherton and generally natty guy played by Nathaniel Parker, and his distinctly working-class and perpetually disheveled sergeant, Barbara Havers (Sharon Small), creates a classic odd-couple mix that allows some actual insight into issues of class and gender.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
Richmond’s last years were odd.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
That real trust can be rare, from knowing other young lads (at Liverpool) and their experiences on loan.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
-
Exhibits in the visitor center include a $1 million display, rare coins and historic bills.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Out-of-the-way.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/out-of-the-way. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
