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freaky

freaky

165 6.9
Strange in a way that makes you feel scared or nervous
  • adjective
  • /ˈfriki/
  • Informal
translation icon : raro
  • When I walked into the abandoned house, the freaky atmosphere made my skin crawl.
  • really freaky
  • so freaky
  • just freaky

But last week we got a little a little freaky with the smoky eye.

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Examples

  • That's why I was acting so freaky at school today.

  • I promise this isn't as freaky as it sounds.

  • It's probably just as freaky on both sides.

  • Look at that freaky thing.

  • This is where it gets really freaky.

  • This is so much fun, it's freaky.

  • " It's freaky, I know, but I thought these might look good in your yard."

    Fiction book (2000)
  • It was a freaky picnic, OK.

  • The guy had one of the most peculiar and freaky physiques I think the sport has seen.

    Blog text (10)
  • I've never played Earthbound, but I understand it has some freaky stuff in it.

    Blog text (19)

Synonyms

strange
vsfreaky
2.3

Unusual and slightly odd in a way you cannot easily understand

is stronger, often adding a disturbing or bizarre edge
crazy
vsfreaky
  • Informal
1.4

Very strange or unusual in a way that surprises people

is more about oddness that makes people feel uneasy
odd
vsfreaky
798 1.0

Different from what is normal or expected

is often more extreme and more likely to unsettle people
bizarre
vsfreaky
406 5.9

Very strange or unusual in a way that surprises people

is like this but often feels more disturbing or uncanny
peculiar
vsfreaky
123 4.6

Different from what is normal and expected

is typically stronger and more likely to feel bizarre or creepy
eccentric
vsfreaky
99 7.2

Different from normal in a way people notice

is closer to strange that also causes discomfort or dread
spooky
vsfreaky
96 3.2

Strange and frightening in a way that makes you feel nervous, like a ghost

can be odd without producing the same fear
eerie
vsfreaky
91 5.1

A strange, frightening feeling as if ghosts are nearby

is similarly odd but can be merely strange without fear
uncanny
vsfreaky
61 7.0

Strange or mysterious in a way that makes you feel uneasy

is broader, covering oddness that may or may not unsettle
outlandish
vsfreaky
34 7.4

Strange or unusual in a way that surprises people

is close but often carries a stronger creepy or bizarre tone
freakish
vsfreaky
23 6.8

Very strange or unusual in a way that surprises people

is similar but adds a stronger unsettling or creepy edge
flaky
vsfreaky
  • Informal
15 5.9

Being a bit strange in behavior or appearance

is less about unreliability and more about unsettling oddness
off-the-wall
vsfreaky
  • Informal
7 8.0

Strange and often funny in a surprising way

is less playful and more likely to feel disturbing or creepy
gonzo
vsfreaky
  • Informal
1 9.7

Very strange and wild in style or behavior

can be equally odd but usually adds an unsettling feeling
shuddery
vsfreaky
1 8.5

That makes you shiver with fear

is more about oddness than causing a direct physical shudder
eldritch
vsfreaky
  • Archaic
9.9

Strange and frightening in a way that seems supernatural

is similar but may lack supernatural suggestion
eery
vsfreaky
  • UK
6.7

Strange in a way that makes you feel afraid or uneasy

covers odd or unsettling situations that may be less frightening
outré
vsfreaky
  • Literature
9.9

Very unusual and sometimes strange in a way that attracts attention

is similar but tends to unsettle rather than only attract notice
bonkers
vsfreaky
  • Informal
8.0

Acting or feeling very strange

is a more neutral strange that may unsettle rather than insult
flakey
vsfreaky
  • UK
8.1

Unusual in a way that people notice

is more intensely strange and may feel creepy rather than merely odd
ostrobogulous
vsfreaky
  • NSFW
9.9

Strange and sometimes a little shocking

is similar but often adds a darker, more unsettling sense
oddish
vsfreaky
7.9

Slightly strange in a small, gentle way

is more intense and more likely to feel bizarre or unsettling

Antonyms

1.0

Usual or expected in most situations

683 1.0

Normal and not special or unusual

How Strange

bizarre
406 5.9
freaky
  • Informal
165 6.9
uncanny
61 7.0
strange
2.3
odd
798 1.0

Surface Forms

freaky positive

Morphology

freaky = freak (transparent) = freak + y

The adjective is a straightforward derivation from 'freak' with the productive suffix '-y' meaning 'characterized by' or 'full of', yielding 'strange' or 'unsettling'.

Etymology

Freaky comes from the word freak, which used to mean an odd person or a sudden strange event, and the ending -y means 'full of' or 'like'. That's why something freaky is 'full of' oddness, meaning very strange or unsettling.