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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 Both of the stranger sessions she’s done so far have been effortlessly fun and easy. —Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 31 May 2025 The show is relatively straightforward: Each season features five comedians who must accomplish strange tasks involving household objects to accumulate points. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 31 May 2025 Venis also has a strange relationship with his child, essentially using it as a prop to help him through his own emotional turmoil. —Andrew R. Chow, Time, 31 May 2025 Because of this strange clustering, the Atlantic Shark Institute has posted signs around Narragansett alerting beachgoers to be on the lookout. —Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 22 May 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
  • Joining me is my Staten Island brother, Pete Davidson, who unveils a darker, dramatic side as his character navigates a bizarre group of residents in an old age home.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 29 May 2025
  • Part of that stems from fewer bizarre storytelling choices (good!), and part of it is a byproduct of an overly cautious attitude toward character development (bad).
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 28 May 2025
Definition of bizarre
Adjective
  • The alliance worked with numerous nonprofit organizations and programs to protect, rescue, train and care for animals and preserve their habitat, while raising public awareness about issues that concern domestic, farm, exotic, wild and native animals.
    — Christie D’Zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
  • The 1,600-year-old mosaic intricately details scenes of hunting, exotic animals, mythological figures, fruit, and daily life within 55 medallions.
    — Francesca Aton for ArtNews, Robb Report, 29 May 2025
Definition of exotic
Adjective
  • Action step: Volunteer for projects outside your usual scope to expand your skills and demonstrate your ability to thrive in unfamiliar territory.
    — Kent Ingle, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • In the video, Pilot stands completely still, with his fluffy tail stuck up, visibly unsure about what to make of the unfamiliar clothing item.
    — Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Definition of unfamiliar
Adjective
  • Listen to this article The Rent Guidelines Board lowered the range of potential rent increases for some 2 million New Yorkers in an unusual redo vote Tuesday — a move that comes as the issue of freezing rents has taken center stage in the contentious mayoral race.
    — Téa Kvetenadze, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025
  • In an unusual step earlier this month, five former directors of the National Weather Service signed an open letter warning that the Trump administration’s cuts to the weather service and its parent agency NOAA may endanger lives.
    — Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2025
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • Historically, Nintendo has had a weird relationship with the internet.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 3 June 2025
  • Can't wait for the weird personality quirks and side eye of judgment.
    — Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
Definition of weird
Adjective
  • The dating competition, based on the popular UK series of the same name, follows a group of singles – aka islanders – looking for romantic connections and a chance to win a hefty cash prize.
    — Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • Last season, Savchenko hit the dance floor with Brooks Nader and the two kicked off an on-again-off-again romantic relationship that ended in April with the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model claiming Savchenko had cheated.
    — Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of romantic
Adjective
  • Which is a very novel concept, because most things are incubated in the States or maybe overseas in the U.K.
    — H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
  • Research efforts are already underway to both explore retinal cell loss and retinal inflammation as novel biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease, Singman says.
    — Elizabeth Yuko, Flow Space, 27 May 2025
Definition of novel
Adjective
  • Acqui-hires are not uncommon in a competitive tech hiring environment.
    — Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • This is why Daigneault refers to the Thunder as an uncommon group.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Definition of uncommon

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strange
strangely
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Cite this Entry

“Strange.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strange. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

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