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eccentric

eccentric

99 7.2
Different from normal in a way people notice
  • adjective
  • /ɪkˈsɛntrɪk/
translation icon : excéntrico
  • Her eccentric style of clothing always draws attention at parties.
  • eccentric behavior
  • an eccentric genius
  • highly eccentric

Or if he's just in his own eccentric way, trying to

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Examples

  • What an eccentric and confident young man.

  • Like the whole meal, it's eccentric and delicious.

  • Yeah, but he was very eccentric, and he was also pretty smart.

  • Not bad for one somewhat eccentric cop who liked to work alone.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • It's easy to see why his reputation is one of an eccentric.

  • Look, he's an eccentric genius.

  • The playing field was leveled; models once dismissed as eccentric were now given equal weight.

    Academic text (1996)
  • MOTHER is a sensitive, kind, and rather appealing if slightly eccentric lady of about 37 or 38.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The place had been owned by an eccentric bachelor who, as a hobby, renovated it himself.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Dunlop is one of those eccentric intellectuals quite common right now.

Synonyms

strange
vseccentric
2.3

Unusual and slightly odd in a way you cannot easily understand

is stronger, pointing to grossly unconventional behaviour rather than puzzling oddness
unusual
vseccentric
2.2

Not common and different from what people expect

is more intense, indicating gross unconventionality rather than mere rarity
odd
vseccentric
798 1.0

Different from what is normal or expected

is stronger, meaning grossly unconventional and noticeably out of line
bizarre
vseccentric
406 5.9

Very strange or unusual in a way that surprises people

is similar but highlights gross unconventionality as a persistent trait
freaky
vseccentric
  • Informal
165 6.9

Strange in a way that makes you feel scared or nervous

is similar but stresses conspicuous unconventionality rather than being unsettling
curious
vseccentric
131 4.0

Strange or unusual in a way that attracts attention

is more forceful, describing conspicuous and gross unconventional behaviour
peculiar
vseccentric
123 4.6

Different from what is normal and expected

is more extreme, implying grossly unconventional conduct rather than mild difference
unnatural
vseccentric
101 4.1

Not normal or what people expect

is about gross unconventionality in behaviour rather than merely unnaturalness
abnormal
vseccentric
100 4.2

Different from what is usual in a way that may be worrying

is about conspicuously unconventional conduct rather than medical or worrying abnormality
quirky
vseccentric
67 4.4

Unusual in a way that is odd but likable

is harsher, stressing conspicuous gross unconventionality rather than charm
outlandish
vseccentric
34 7.4

Strange or unusual in a way that surprises people

is the broader label for grossly unconventional or blatantly unusual conduct
freakish
vseccentric
23 6.8

Very strange or unusual in a way that surprises people

is more about evident gross unconventional behaviour than mere abnormality
anomalous
vseccentric
23 8.1

Not like what is usual or expected

is more about conspicuous gross unconventional conduct than neutral deviation
flaky
vseccentric
  • Informal
15 5.9

Being a bit strange in behavior or appearance

is stronger, stressing gross unconventional actions or appearance in public
off-the-wall
vseccentric
  • Informal
7 8.0

Strange and often funny in a surprising way

is more about clear gross unconventionality rather than amusing oddness
wiggy
vseccentric
  • Slang
3 9.3

Strange and amusing in how a person or thing looks and acts

is more serious, indicating gross unconventional behaviour rather than amusing oddness
gonzo
vseccentric
  • Informal
1 9.7

Very strange and wild in style or behavior

is more general, signifying gross unconventional conduct beyond style choice
nutty as a fruitcake
vseccentric
  • Informal
1 9.0

Very strange and silly in a way that seems crazy

is more neutral, describing gross unconventional behaviour without playful exaggeration
out-of-the-way
vseccentric
1 6.3

Not usual and often interesting or surprising

is more extreme, stressing gross unconventional behaviour rather than rarity
outré
vseccentric
  • Literature
9.9

Very unusual and sometimes strange in a way that attracts attention

is more general, describing gross unconventionality beyond mere bold style
ostrobogulous
vseccentric
  • NSFW
9.9

Strange and sometimes a little shocking

is stronger, indicating grossly unconventional conduct rather than occasional absurdity
flakey
vseccentric
  • UK
8.1

Unusual in a way that people notice

is stronger and more flagrantly unconventional than merely noticeable oddness
crankish
vseccentric
8.9

Acting in a strange, unusual way that others find odd

is more extreme, pointing to grossly unconventional conduct rather than mild oddity
oddish
vseccentric
7.9

Slightly strange in a small, gentle way

is far stronger, describing gross and conspicuous unconventionality
a bit loony
vseccentric
  • Offensive
8.9

A little strange and silly

is more neutral, focusing on gross unconventional behaviour rather than instability

Antonyms

1.0

Usual or expected in most situations

175 2.8

Doing things in the usual way most people expect, not new or original

Compounds

A person with unusual habits or behavior

How Eccentric

bizarre
406 5.9
eccentric
99 7.2
odd
798 1.0
unusual
2.2

Surface Forms

eccentric positive
eccentricer comparative
eccentricest superlative

Morphology

eccentric = centric (semi-transparent) = ec + centric

The parts literally mean 'out of center', but the usual human/behavioural sense 'odd, unconventional' is a metaphorical extension and not fully deducible by an average learner.

Etymology

Eccentric comes from Greek parts ek- meaning 'out of' and kentron meaning 'center', so picture someone standing off the middle of a stage — 'off the center' — which helps explain why the word describes odd or unusual behaviour.