Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Strikingly unconventional and far from ordinary: Describes something that is very strange, unusual, or unexpected in a way that is conspicuous and often unsettling.
   • Markedly odd or fantastical: Refers to things that are weird, eccentric, or have a fantastical quality that defies normal expectations.

Usage

The word "bizarre" is used to describe situations, objects, appearances, or behavior that are extremely odd and stand out sharply from what is considered normal or conventional. It often carries a connotation of being unsettling, fascinating, or difficult to explain.

Examples

• The artist created a bizarre sculpture from old car parts and neon lights.
• We heard a bizarre story about a cat that learned to use the telephone.
• His bizarre behavior at the meeting made everyone uncomfortable.
• The dream had a bizarre plot that made no sense when I woke up.

Advanced Usage

• "bizarrely" (adverb): In a bizarre manner.
  • The room was decorated bizarrely, with furniture hanging from the ceiling.
• "bizarreness" (noun): The quality of being bizarre.
  • The bizarreness of the situation left us all speechless.

Variants and Related Words

• Bizarro (adj): An informal variant, often used in pop culture to mean weird or opposite in a strange way (e.g., "Bizarro World").
• Bizarrely (adv): As mentioned above.
• Bizarreness (n): As mentioned above.

Synonyms

• Weird: Very strange and unusual.
• Eccentric: Unconventional and slightly strange.
• Outlandish: Looking or sounding bizarre or unfamiliar.
• Grotesque: Comically or repulsively ugly or distorted.
• Freakish: Very unusual or strange, especially in a way that is unnatural.

Antonyms

• Normal: Conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected.
• Ordinary: With no special or distinctive features; normal.
• Conventional: Based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• "The bizarre and the beautiful": A phrase used to contrast very strange things with very attractive things, often highlighting a wide spectrum.
  • The exhibition showcased everything from the bizarre and the beautiful.
• "Truth is stranger than fiction; reality is often bizarre": A common saying implying that real events can be more bizarre than invented stories.

Adjective

1. conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
   • restaurants of bizarre design--one like a hat, another like a rabbit
   • famed for his eccentric spelling
   • a freakish combination of styles
   • his off-the-wall antics
   • the outlandish clothes of teenagers
   • outre and affected stage antics