oddity

noun

ˈä-də-tē How to pronounce oddity (audio)
Definition of odditynext
1
as in trick
an odd or peculiar habit his one oddity is collecting used pencil leads

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2
as in rarity
something strange or unusual that is an object of interest years ago circus sideshows used to display people with unusual physical features as oddities

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3
as in anomaly
something that is different from what is ordinary or expected she is an oddity in that, unlike her sisters, she avoids social media

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4
as in eccentric
a person of odd or whimsical habits an oddity with a penchant for weaving cat fur

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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 oddity The episode would have disappeared into the weekly churn of NFL oddities if not for what happened days later. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2026 The museum, known for its oddities and pop art, opened in 1967. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 22 Sep. 2026 One oddity here is that there’s no immediately visible option for exporting your dashboards. — Dianna Gunn, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026 Other things to do include paying tribute to 9/11 firefighters at Nippert Stadium, sipping a glass of wine at Vinoklet Art & Wine Festival, exploring the oddities at HorrorHound Weekend and much more. — Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for oddity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oddity
  1. trick
  2. rarity
  3. anomaly
  4. eccentric
  5. quirk
  6. exception
  7. character
  8. trait
Noun
  • Is there a celebrity chain where people share tips and tricks?
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Fox Nation is pulling a new trick, using artificial intelligence to bring legendary illusionist Harry Houdini back from the dead.
    — Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of trick
Noun
  • That’s a rarity in this world where normally people have to wait two, three years for the next season.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The chef, known for his exceptional dishes at Le Bernardin, has an equally remarkable watch collection to match—think rarities from brands such as Rolex, Vacheron Constantin, and Cartier.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of rarity
Noun
  • Cuellar is an institution in South Texas and an anomaly in modern Democratic politics.
    — Justin Papp, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Continuous anomaly detection can also catch budget drift immediately—rather than at month-end—improving our overall operational efficiency.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of anomaly
Noun
  • The public reckonings with these figures’ legacies—the troubled former child star gone too soon, the beloved icon, the cult favorite, the complicated eccentric—have come in a cascade.
    — Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of eccentric
Noun
  • Be advised, then, of the unadvertised benefits, and quirks, of in-person learning.
    — David Shribman, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The Kings get busy early shading in a lot of the quirks and personality of this series.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of quirk
Noun
  • Where Brown has a point is that teams are using the full mid-level exception (MLE) less frequently under the current CBA.
    — Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The measure extends those protections to public ways within 1,000 feet of court facilities, while preserving an exception for arrests made under a valid judicial warrant.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of exception
Noun
  • Earlier versions looked unnaturally green, while the team also considered how the character’s skin would react to different lighting.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Coleman said each design has its own distinct character and can be styled individually, either as a subtle everyday detail or a sculptural statement.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of character
Noun
  • Rather than exclusively focusing on what’s wrong with our mental health, one approach is to develop skills, traits, and perspectives that can help us.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Each of these traits exist to make working together possible.
    — Zaharia-Gabriel Sidere, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of trait

Browse Nearby Words

oddities
oddity
oddly
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Cite this Entry

“Oddity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oddity. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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