ODDBALL Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

oddball 1 of 2

noun

ˈäd-ˌbȯl

Definition of oddball

as in eccentric

a person of odd or whimsical habits she's known as the office oddball

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

oddball

2 of 2

adjective

as in bizarre

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 oddball

Noun

Black Rock Coalition bands like funk-metal group 24-7 Spyz and shoegaze oddballs the Veldt—particularly when the Veldt’s murkiness resolves into a major-key chorus. — Hannah Jocelyn, Pitchfork, 22 June 2026 His trilogy is, likewise, a straphangers’ gallery of metropolitan oddballs, from Zippo, a pyromaniac turned blaxploitation filmmaker, to Uncle Rich, a master criminal who stages a daring raid on the Waldorf-Astoria from a disused train tunnel with the help of a homeless army. — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 22 June 2026

Adjective

Gillis and co-creators Steve Gerben, John McKeever have put together a great cast of oddball characters, including Stavros Halkias’ Dave and Thomas Haden Church’s Phil Jacobs. — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Aug. 2026 But the confidence of this hard pivot and the thrillingly oddball noise construction absolutely hail from the same world as QT and SOPHIE’s exquisitely abrasive 2015 compilation, Product. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for oddball

Recent Examples of Synonyms for oddball

Noun

Make sure to practice a full range of motion with these and emphasize the eccentric (the way down) part of the movement for maximal time under tension and muscle-building stimulus.

— Jakob Roze, HEALTH, 19 Aug. 2026
No documentarian has a better eye for intriguing oddballs than Errol Morris, who built his feature film career on drawing them out in conversation, from pet-cemetery owners in Gates of Heaven to small-town eccentrics in Vernon, Florida.

— Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of eccentric

Adjective

The idea that these two would have a five-minute-or-less breakup conversation, then plop down on the couch and happily embark on an acid trip together, strains credulity a little, even for this bizarre, codependent friend group.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Twenty-eight million views on YouTube certified the bizarre piece as a fan favorite.

— Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of bizarre

Noun

The Oscar-winning actress has written a new musical stage adaptation around the character, set to open on London’s prestigious theater scene in the summer of 2027.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
The entire ensemble of cast led by Manoj, Divya, and Boman bring an incredible depth to their characters.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of character

Adjective

While his batting order remains unchanged, the team has made an unusual move, relocating Guerrero's locker to a new spot.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Land exchanges are common elsewhere in the federal government, but exchanging National Park Service land for private development access is unusual, NOTUS reported, citing a former park service official.

— Annie Palmer, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of unusual

Noun

Joey King plays Sally’s other daughter, Kylie, while Bullock and Nicole Kidman return as the spell-casting sisters from the 1998 original.

— Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 28 Aug. 2026
Manifest creator Jeff Rake is teaming with Margaret Easley and Laura Putney, writers and co-executive producers on the original, for Arrivals.

— Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of original

Adjective

For the kooky, mischievous and not-often-sober Shifty Gruff, Sheen was always the number one choice.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
The actor debuted a promotional photo shoot in support of his new movie Digger that gives a closer look at his kooky oil tycoon character from Alejandro González Iñárritu‘s upcoming satire.

— Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026

Definition of kooky

Browse Nearby Words

odd

oddball

oddballs

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Oddball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oddball. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of oddball

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes