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oddball

oddball

21 7.2
A person who acts in a strange way
  • noun
  • /ˈɔdˌbɔl/
  • Offensive
translation icon : bicho raro
  • Maybe I'm the one who's the oddball, maybe that's the norm, but whatever it is, it certainly isn't my style.

Does that level of discipline make you an oddball here at Alabama?

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Examples

Synonyms

geek
vsoddball
  • Slang
244 6.8

A person who is socially awkward and likes unusual hobbies

is about odd behaviour broadly rather than social awkwardness
weirdo
vsoddball
  • Offensive
119 7.0

A person who acts in a strange or unusual way

is the same idea but more neutral in tone
flake
vsoddball
  • Offensive
43 8.0

A person who seems strange and cannot be relied on

is purely about odd behaviour without implying unreliability
crackpot
vsoddball
  • Offensive
40 8.2

A person who has strange or unrealistic ideas

focuses on odd behaviour rather than specifically odd ideas
kook
vsoddball
  • Offensive
35 8.8

A person who behaves in a very strange or wild way

is milder, describing odd behaviour without extreme judgement
odd man
vsoddball
  • Informal
9 5.9

A person who does not fit in with a group

focuses on odd or unconventional behaviour rather than social difference
odd man out
vsoddball
  • Informal
8 6.1

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

focuses more on odd or unconventional behaviour itself
nutball
vsoddball
  • Offensive
5 8.5

A person who acts silly or strange to make others laugh

is similar but more neutral, not necessarily silly or harmless
screwball
vsoddball
  • Offensive
5 8.3

A person who behaves in a strange, silly way

is similar but without the playful or whimsical nuance
bizarro
vsoddball
  • Slang
4 9.9

A person who behaves very strangely

is the neutral everyday way to indicate odd behaviour
freakazoid
vsoddball
  • Offensive
4 9.9

A person who behaves in a very strange or wild way

is the common neutral term rather than a flashy label
eccentric
vsoddball
1 7.0

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

is the everyday informal label rather than a descriptive adjective
eccentric person
vsoddball
1 6.0

A person with unusual habits or behavior

is a casual label for the same kind of person
odd fellow
vsoddball
  • Informal
1 6.8

A person who acts in a way people think is strange

is a more general informal term for similar odd behaviour
total nutcase
vsoddball
  • Offensive
1 8.8

A person who acts in a way that seems crazy

is less extreme and more neutral in judgement
lovable weirdo
vsoddball
  • Informal
1 6.7

A person with odd habits who others like

is neutral about odd behaviour rather than showing affection
bit of a weirdo
vsoddball
  • Offensive
1 8.6

A person who acts a little strange or different

is the standard informal term for that same oddness
weirdie
vsoddball
  • Offensive
1 9.9

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

is similar but lacks the negative or unpleasant tone
aberrant
vsoddball
1 9.1

A person who behaves very differently from what others expect

is used for general odd or unconventional actions rather than extremes
odd fish
vsoddball
  • Informal
8.2

A person who behaves in a strange or unusual way

is a broader informal description rather than a judgement
ouf
vsoddball
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who behaves in a wild or strange way

is the standard way to say someone behaves oddly
knuckleballer
vsoddball
  • Informal
9.3

A person who often does things that surprise other people

focuses on odd or unconventional behaviour rather than unpredictability
weirdy
vsoddball
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who acts strange and makes others uncomfortable

is the neutral label without the unpleasant connotation
queer duck
vsoddball
  • Archaic
9.6

A person who acts in a strange or unusual way

is a simpler informal term for unusual behaviour
queer bird
vsoddball
  • Archaic
9.4

A person who acts in an odd or unusual way

is the plain informal way to indicate odd behaviour
queer fish
vsoddball
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who seems strange to other people

is a basic informal descriptor without extra peculiarity

Antonyms

7.7

Supporting the idea that rules come from social agreement

How Strange

freak
  • Slur
243 5.5
weirdo
  • Offensive
119 7.0
oddball
  • Offensive
21 7.2
eccentric
1 7.0

Surface Forms

oddball singular
oddballs plural

Morphology

oddball = odd + ball (transparent) = odd + ball

The meaning 'a person who is odd' follows directly from the clear components 'odd' + 'ball', so learners can infer the sense.

Etymology

Oddball joins odd ('strange') with ball ('a round thing'), so you can imagine a weird-shaped ball that does not roll like the others. That's why an oddball means a person who acts in a strange or unusual way.