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Synonym Chooser

How is the word outlandish distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of outlandish are eccentric, erratic, odd, peculiar, quaint, singular, strange, and unique. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

When is it sensible to use eccentric instead of outlandish?

The words eccentric and outlandish can be used in similar contexts, but eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

In what contexts can erratic take the place of outlandish?

Although the words erratic and outlandish have much in common, erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

When can odd be used instead of outlandish?

In some situations, the words odd and outlandish are roughly equivalent. However, odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

When would peculiar be a good substitute for outlandish?

While the synonyms peculiar and outlandish are close in meaning, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

When could quaint be used to replace outlandish?

The meanings of quaint and outlandish largely overlap; however, quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

When is singular a more appropriate choice than outlandish?

The words singular and outlandish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

Where would strange be a reasonable alternative to outlandish?

While in some cases nearly identical to outlandish, 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 outlandish?

The synonyms unique and outlandish are sometimes interchangeable, but unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel.

a career unique in the annals of science

Examples 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 outlandish While shedding some of the party’s outlandish and uncompromising social progressivism would seem one of the smartest routes, the party’s activist base remains determined to fight tooth and nail against any deviation. Paul MacRae, Baltimore Sun, 26 Nov. 2024 Farrell is giving the bigger, sometimes outlandish performance, but Milioti renders Sofia as the series’ open wound. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2024 As the outlandish nature of his false claims grew, so did his media empire, with annual revenues of up to $80 million, and a fanbase that at his height listened to him on more than 100 radio stations across the United States as well as through his Infowars website and social media. Sean Murphy, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Nov. 2024 In the strange and outlandish world of rock & roll, certain backstage legends refuse to die: The band that only wanted certain colored M&Ms or specific kinds of tea in their dressing rooms. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for outlandish 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outlandish
Adjective
  • Red One seemed like a bizarre experiment, some sort of action film-adjacent Santa Claus movie starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans that almost seemed to be a sort of parody of itself.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Her material consists of tales of her bizarre upbringing, highly unconventional family, and filterless confessions of her time on this filthy planet.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Madison is flawless in these closing scenes: stunned, heartbroken, unable to respond to the tentative romantic gestures of a Russian henchman who's taken a shine to her.
    Tom Gliatto, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024
  • The style of the home was Italian Villa, an informal, romantic style.
    Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • When Sandy goes missing, the line between reality and game blurs and Conor must venture into the strange world of OBEX to bring her home.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024
  • At the time, federal law gave the Bureau a strange grab bag of investigative duties, ranging from interstate prostitution to antitrust violations.
    Beverly Gage, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The varying sculptures are used as flower pots for native and exotic species, per the fair.
    Sommer Brugal, Axios, 5 Dec. 2024
  • Green iguanas are not native to Florida and are believed to have been introduced via the exotic pet trade in the 1960s.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Crandell, the Harvard physiatrist, is a funny, brainy, and upbeat clinician who treats people with amputations in the Spaulding Rehabilitation Center, a building overlooking Boston Harbor.
    Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
  • An Instax camera snaps photos throughout the night, the shots progressively funnier the more nog is consumed.
    Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • That was such a weird sensation—to just have paper towels stuffed deep in your skin.
    Julia Ries, SELF, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Danny Boyle and Alex Garland are returning after 22 years to make 28 Years Later, though the original film, 28 Days Later, has remained one of cinema’s weirdest modern days stories.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Browse a library of colorful covers for the first time on your Kindle.
    Jaclyn Trop, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2024
  • The Christmas cactus is another beloved houseplant that puts on a colorful show from November through January.
    Heather Bien, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Next year’s ceremony could be even tougher, given the odd state of the best picture race, which has no clear front-runner and appears likely to be dominated by a handful of film festival favorites.
    Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Still, Miranda’s talents remain an odd match for Disney, leaving Lebo M — a vocalist from the first movie — to elevate the soundtrack once again, reinforcing the connection to Zulu rhythms and chants.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Outlandish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outlandish. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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