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
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 Dec. 2024
Meanwhile, Ojibwe chef Bryce Stevenson, a key figure in the Indigenous Food Sovereignty movement and a 2024 James Beard Award semifinalist, took a big gamble in 2023 by choosing his out-of-the-way home turf as the location for a high-concept restaurant, Miijim.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 20 Nov. 2024
Listen to this article A search and rescue team extricated a missing woman from a storm drain near the San Diego-Poway border Monday after a hunt for her led police detectives to the out-of-the-way spot, fire officials said.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
And the Shoah wasn’t confined to one out-of-the-way place named Oświęcim, such that bystanders didn’t know what was happening.
—Martin Kimel, Baltimore Sun, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for out-of-the-way
Adjective
Besides the occasional random spider that scuttles indoors, some spiders can live in out-of-the-way spots in your home, such as along ceilings or in basements and behind clutter.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 Dec. 2024
Meanwhile, Ojibwe chef Bryce Stevenson, a key figure in the Indigenous Food Sovereignty movement and a 2024 James Beard Award semifinalist, took a big gamble in 2023 by choosing his out-of-the-way home turf as the location for a high-concept restaurant, Miijim.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 20 Nov. 2024
Listen to this article A search and rescue team extricated a missing woman from a storm drain near the San Diego-Poway border Monday after a hunt for her led police detectives to the out-of-the-way spot, fire officials said.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
And the Shoah wasn’t confined to one out-of-the-way place named Oświęcim, such that bystanders didn’t know what was happening.
—Martin Kimel, Baltimore Sun, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for out-of-the-way
Recent Examples of Synonyms for out-of-the-way
Adjective
-
Even more bizarre was the depth the starlight's dip changed with every transit.—
Victoria Corless,
Space.com,
22 Apr. 2025
-
The gay man who was involved in Rep. Nancy Mace’s viral meltdown at an Ulta Beauty store is speaking out about the bizarre incident.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Although not musicians, the Goldbergs quickly realized there was something unusual about their 3-year-old boy.—
Steve Rothaus,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2025
-
For one group of six girls living in Waterloo, Canada, their lives took an unusual turn when a couple of very territorial geese decided to claim their front lawn as their own.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
If some readers were befuddled by Mr. Holland’s strange and magical imagery, graphic artists were entranced.—
Penelope Green,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
-
These stores typically feature eclectic collections of oddities, collectibles, curiosities, and decorative items that appeal to collectors and enthusiasts of the strange and unique.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
To be fair, government tech projects are complicated, and overruns aren’t uncommon.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Addressed an issue where all horse saddles were uncommon.—
Oliver Brandt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
So those [neoclassical] artists are to me, in a very weird sense, the very earliest photographers—except their medium was oil on canvas.—
Mark Holgate,
Vogue,
15 Apr. 2025
-
The first sign of Mom Fatigue is leaving weird stuff in the fridge.—
Olga Khazan,
The Atlantic,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
And makes a funny joke about giving Glenn Close an Oscar.—
Andy Hoglund,
EW.com,
13 Apr. 2025
-
His being handsome, funny and not known for comedy was a real asset.—
Rosa Escandon,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Held in the odd year after the presidential election since 1869, Virginia’s gubernatorial race is a cyclical scorecard for voters’ moods and the issues at the forefront of the national consciousness.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Marred by odd promo segments and a general lack of chemistry, Stratton vs. Flair underwhelmed and underdelivered.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The exemptions were a rare piece of good news for the battered financial markets, and U.S. stocks closed higher Monday.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2025
-
In rare cases, legislative changes could extend the window.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Out-of-the-way.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/out-of-the-way. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share