bizarre

1 of 2

adjective

bi·​zarre bə-ˈzär 

: strikingly out of the ordinary: such as

a

: odd, extravagant, or eccentric in style or mode

His behavior was bizarre.

bizarre stories

a bizarre outfit

b

: involving sensational contrasts or incongruities

the bizarre timidity of a tall, strapping young man

bizarrely adverb

bizarreness noun

bizarre

2 of 2

noun

botany : a flower with atypical striped marking

Synonyms

Adjective

• absurd
• crazy
• fanciful
• fantastic
• fantastical
• foolish
• insane
• nonsensical
• preposterous
• unreal
• wild

Choose the Right Synonym for bizarre

fantastic, bizarre, grotesque mean conceived, made, or carried out without adherence to truth or reality.

fantastic may connote extravagance in conception or ingenuity of decorative invention.

dreamed up fantastic rumors

bizarre applies to the sensationally strange and implies violence of contrast or incongruity of combination.

a bizarre medieval castle in the heart of a modern city

grotesque may apply to what is conventionally ugly but artistically effective or it may connote ludicrous awkwardness or incongruity often with sinister or tragic overtones.

grotesque statues on the cathedral

though grieving, she made a grotesque attempt at a smile

Examples of bizarre in a Sentence

Adjective

I just heard the most bizarre story.

She wore a bizarre outfit.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Does that explain his bizarre excursion to allow Arnaut Danjuma to score? —Greg O'Keeffe, The Athletic, 30 Jan. 2025

Archaeologists have uncovered a series of bizarre ancient burials in France. —Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025

Noun

The Celebration tour — on Tuesday in a bizarre, NSFW video featuring a dinner-party game of truth or dare with guests Amy Schumer, Jack Black and Lil Wayne, among others. —Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2023

An autumnal trip around your local grocery store will reveal a dizzying array of goods infused with pumpkin spice, from the predictable to the bizarre. —Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, 29 Sep. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French, from Italian bizzarro

Noun

noun derivative of bizarre entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1648, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1753, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bizarre

adjective

bi·​zarre

bə-ˈzär

: strikingly unusual or odd : fantastic

bizarrely adverb

bizarreness noun