SINGULAR Synonyms: 151 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'singular' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of singular are eccentric , erratic , odd , outlandish , peculiar , quaint , strange , and unique . While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness. // a singular feeling of impending disaster

Q: In what contexts can 'eccentric' take the place of 'singular'?

While in some cases nearly identical to singular , eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior. // the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

Q: When could 'erratic' be used to replace 'singular'?

The words erratic and singular are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating. // a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

Q: When might 'odd' be a better fit than 'singular'?

The meanings of odd and singular largely overlap; however, odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected. // an odd sense of humor

Q: When is 'outlandish' a more appropriate choice than 'singular'?

Although the words outlandish and singular have much in common, outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric. // outlandish fashions of the time

Q: Where would 'peculiar' be a reasonable alternative to 'singular'?

While the synonyms peculiar and singular are close in meaning, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness. // the peculiar status of America's first lady

Q: When is it sensible to use 'quaint' instead of 'singular'?

The synonyms quaint and singular are sometimes interchangeable, but quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness. // a quaint fishing village

Q: When would 'strange' be a good substitute for 'singular'?

The words strange and singular can be used in similar contexts, but strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable. // a journey filled with strange sights

Q: When can 'unique' be used instead of 'singular'?

In some situations, the words unique and singular are roughly equivalent. However, unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel. // a career unique in the annals of science

singular

adjective

ˈsiŋ-gyə-lər

Definition of singular

as in extraordinary

being out of the ordinary the novelist's singular command of the language makes her a compelling voice in contemporary fiction

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as in unusual

noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced appearing on the game show has been the most singular experience of my life

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as in personal

of, relating to, or belonging to a single person preserving our national heritage is not a singular responsibility but our collective duty

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as in only

being the one or ones of a class with no other members this crime was a singular case, and using it as a reason for revising the criminal code would be ill-advised

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word singular distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of singular are eccentric, erratic, odd, outlandish, peculiar, quaint, strange, and unique. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

In what contexts can eccentric take the place of singular?

While in some cases nearly identical to singular, eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

When could erratic be used to replace singular?

The words erratic and singular are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

When might odd be a better fit than singular?

The meanings of odd and singular largely overlap; however, odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

When is outlandish a more appropriate choice than singular?

Although the words outlandish and singular have much in common, outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

Where would peculiar be a reasonable alternative to singular?

While the synonyms peculiar and singular are close in meaning, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

When is it sensible to use quaint instead of singular?

The synonyms quaint and singular are sometimes interchangeable, but quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

When would strange be a good substitute for singular?

The words strange and singular can be used in similar contexts, but strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

When can unique be used instead of singular?

In some situations, the words unique and singular are roughly equivalent. However, unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel.

a career unique in the annals of science

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of singular Mykki Blanco, ‘CAFE PARADISO’ Watch On Mykki Blanco is a singular individual in the music space, a rapper who rose from humble beginnings to collaborate with some of the industry’s biggest names. — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 28 Sep. 2026 The key is housing all these AI capabilities within a singular Copilot app. — Matthew J. Belvedere,kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026 Evaluating whether a project will succeed involves a framework for weighing multiple signals rather than one singular factor. — Andrei Grachev, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026 There’s no question that Cassavetes’ voice was singular — but his relationship to the mainstream was always a little more complicated than historical record acknowledges. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for singular

Recent Examples of Synonyms for singular

Adjective

Alongside Parton’s thousands of remarkable songs, the singer’s extraordinary life and career reached beyond music.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2026
Hill’s departure marks the end of an extraordinary run in one of heavy metal’s defining bands.

— SPIN Staff, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of extraordinary

Adjective

Atomic hydrogen’s unusual reactivity could potentially be useful in other areas of organic chemistry and, over the longer term, biological sciences.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
The unusual diversion also led to discussion among travelers online, some of whom shared their own experiences with restroom problems aboard flights.

— Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of unusual

Adjective

The lawsuits, in his eyes, are simply cases of personal misfortune and landlord greed.

— Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 8 Oct. 2026
Meta has pressed ahead with its own personal AI agent, launching its Muse agent in early September, modeled on the open-source AI agent OpenClaw.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of personal

Adjective

Shotwell has been the only donor to announce a major stock gift, the Wall Street Journal reported, but Treasury notes show others have expressed interest in similar donations.

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
The hypnotizing corduroy stripes of curling blue waves visible from the resort’s expansive green clifftop lawn en route to a private staircase that leads straight to the surf—and a guest-only beach deck, too.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of only

Adjective

That unique gallery purchased the building in 2018 for $3 million, but officials there didn’t begin planning its future in earnest until Cap City vacated its lease and closed in July 2025.

— John Wenzel, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026
On Saturday, the singer and talk show host took to X to share details of her recent experience at Art of Play, a store known for its collection of toys, games, books, puzzles and other unique items.

— Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of unique

Adjective

The 1997 Disney movie Hercules mixed Roman and Greek names, helping propagate this and other inaccuracies (not uncommon in Hollywood’s depictions of ancient Greece).

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
This is not uncommon — women make up 4% of laureates since the award’s inception, though that has inched up to 12% in the past decade.

— O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of uncommon

Adjective

Structured demand required manual interpretation of requirements, often influenced by subjective bias.

— Adam Feiner, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
The executive pointed to the trade for Freddy Peralta as one in which subjective ideas, including Peralta’s clubhouse energy, pushed the Mets to value the pitcher more than objective measures.

— Tim Britton, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of subjective

Adjective

Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan.

— SI.com, SI.com, 3 Aug. 2019
Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive.

— Johannes Himmelreich, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Mar. 2018

Definition of one

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“Singular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/singular. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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