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aberrant

aberrant

1 9.1
A person who behaves very differently from what others expect
  • noun
  • /ˈæbərənt/
translation icon : persona anómala
  • The psychologist noted that the group included several aberrants whose actions deviated significantly from social norms.

Examples

  • A critical look at Atheism, Aberrant.

    Blog text (22)
  • That aberrant thought—and the young man's image—passed in a second or two, leaving Hatch staring at his familiar reflection.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • So it happened in Watergate: the hard, indeed the aberrant, case of Watergate made the bad law of the independent-counsel statute, first enacted as Title VI of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and twice reauthorized during the eighties.

    Academic text (1990)
  • That the bottomless and aimless hostility which makes our cities among the most dangerous in the world is created and felt by a handful of aberrants, that the lack, yawning everywhere in this country, of passionate conviction, of personal authority, proves only our rather appealing tendency to be gregarious and democratic.

  • In the team, he was considered an aberrant due to his unusual approach to problem-solving.

  • The report highlighted the potential dangers posed by aberrants within the larger community.

Synonyms

anomaly
vsaberrant
165 7.1

Something that is not normal or expected

emphasizes strong unacceptable behavior rather than merely being atypical
weirdo
vsaberrant
  • Offensive
119 7.0

A person who acts in a strange or unusual way

describes behavior that strongly departs from group norms and acceptability
misfit
vsaberrant
54 5.1

A person who acts differently from others and cannot join in

is about strong rejection of group rules rather than only poor adjustment
outlier
vsaberrant
  • Specialized
35 6.7

A person or thing that is clearly different from others in a group

is about social unacceptability and behavior, not neutral difference alone
kook
vsaberrant
  • Offensive
35 8.8

A person who behaves in a very strange or wild way

is about marked departure from acceptable behavior rather than merely oddity
oddball
vsaberrant
  • Offensive
21 7.2

A person who acts in a strange way

is about behavior that deeply breaks group norms and acceptability
odd man
vsaberrant
  • Informal
9 5.9

A person who does not fit in with a group

focuses on marked unacceptable behavior rather than a simple social mismatch
odd man out
vsaberrant
  • Informal
8 6.1

A person who is clearly different from others and does not fit in

is about behavior that strongly departs from acceptability, not just being different
bizarro
vsaberrant
  • Slang
4 9.9

A person who behaves very strangely

is about unacceptable conduct that deeply departs from group standards
freakazoid
vsaberrant
  • Offensive
4 9.9

A person who behaves in a very strange or wild way

is about serious breach of acceptable behavior within a group
deviate
vsaberrant
  • Offensive
1 9.5

A person who acts very differently from social rules, often used as an insult

focuses on broad group unacceptability rather than a specific social topic
eccentric
vsaberrant
1 7.0

A person who behaves in an unusual way that others find odd

is about significant departure from accepted behavior that shocks or offends
eccentric person
vsaberrant
1 6.0

A person with unusual habits or behavior

focuses on severe deviation from group norms rather than harmless oddity
odd fellow
vsaberrant
  • Informal
1 6.8

A person who acts in a way people think is strange

indicates a serious breach of group norms rather than mild eccentricity
weirdie
vsaberrant
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who acts in a strange way that others find unpleasant

is about major departure from group standards rather than merely annoying
aberrator
vsaberrant
9.9

A person who disagrees with common ideas or rules

is about strong departure from what a group finds normal or acceptable
weirdy
vsaberrant
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who acts strange and makes others uncomfortable

is used for people who strongly break group expectations rather than mildly offend
odd fish
vsaberrant
  • Informal
8.2

A person who behaves in a strange or unusual way

expresses larger, unacceptable departure from group expectations rather than oddness
ouf
vsaberrant
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who behaves in a wild or strange way

is about notable, unacceptable departure from group norms rather than casual craziness

Antonyms

2 5.7

A person who follows rules and usual ways instead of trying new ideas

How Unusual

deviant
26 8.1
aberrant
1 9.1
oddball
  • Offensive
21 7.2
eccentric
1 7.0

Surface Forms

aberrant singular
aberrants plural

Etymology

Aberrant comes from the same Latin parts ab- 'away' and errare 'to wander', like the words err and error. So, an aberrant is a person who has 'gone away' from the usual or accepted behavior.