weird

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/wɪrd/
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It describes something markedly odd or unusual, and historically it can refer to a person's destiny or to the realm of the uncanny and supernatural.

Examples

  • She felt a chill as she stepped into the weird.
  • The garden grew weird mushrooms after the storm.
  • Legends speak of a weird that binds all souls.
  • In the old tale, the king's weird was sealed by prophecy.
  • Artifacts from the weird were displayed in the museum.

Similar words

fate
destiny
ghostly
supernatural
eerie
lot
otherworldly
unusual
strange
providence

Meanings

Strange or unusual

adjective
everyday
neutral
Having a markedly odd, unusual, or unexpected quality that makes something seem out of the ordinary.

Examples

  • The painting has a weird color palette that catches the eye.
  • She always wears weird shoes to stand out.
  • The weird noise in the hallway made everyone pause.
  • His weird sense of humor confused the audience.
  • That weird coincidence felt like a sign.
  • The garden grew weird mushrooms after the storm.
  • I found a weird object on the beach this morning.

Similar words

Fate or destiny

noun
literary
archaic
A person's predetermined destiny or the force that controls the course of events, as used in older literature.

Examples

  • In the old tale, the king's weird was sealed by prophecy.
  • She accepted her weird with quiet dignity.
  • The poet wrote of a weird that could not be altered.
  • His weird led him to the battlefield.
  • The tragic weird of the heroine was foretold.
  • Legends speak of a weird that binds all souls.
  • The ancient scroll described the weird of kings.

Similar words

Supernatural or uncanny realm

noun
literary
neutral
The realm of the mysterious, uncanny, or supernatural, often referred to as “the weird” in folklore and fantasy.

Examples

  • Legends whisper of a weird where shadows come alive.
  • The ancient tome described the weird beyond the veil.
  • Travelers feared the weird that lingered in the ruins.
  • A portal to the weird opened beneath the moon.
  • The story's climax took place in the weird.
  • She felt a chill as she stepped into the weird.
  • Artifacts from the weird were displayed in the museum.

Similar words

Etymology

From Old English wyrd ‘fate, destiny’, originally meaning the power that controls events; the sense of ‘odd or uncanny’ developed in the 19th century.

FAQ

What does weird mean as an adjective?

Weird describes something markedly odd, unusual, or out of the ordinary.

How is weird used as a noun meaning fate?

In older literary works, weird refers to a person's destiny or the force that controls events.

Can weird refer to a supernatural realm?

Yes, weird can denote the uncanny or supernatural realm, especially in folklore and fantasy.

Is it correct to say "weirdly" instead of "weird"?

Use weird as an adjective; the adverb form is weirdly, which has a different meaning.

What are common synonyms for weird?

Synonyms include odd, strange, unusual, bizarre, peculiar, and eerie.

What are common antonyms for weird?

Antonyms are normal and ordinary.

Where does the word weird come from?

It comes from Old English wyrd, meaning fate or destiny, later extending to mean odd or uncanny.

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