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Synonym Chooser

How is the word erratic distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of erratic are eccentric, odd, outlandish, peculiar, quaint, singular, strange, and unique. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

When is eccentric a more appropriate choice than erratic?

The words eccentric and erratic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

When can odd be used instead of erratic?

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

an odd sense of humor

When could outlandish be used to replace erratic?

The words outlandish and erratic can be used in similar contexts, but outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

Where would peculiar be a reasonable alternative to erratic?

Although the words peculiar and erratic have much in common, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

In what contexts can quaint take the place of erratic?

While in some cases nearly identical to erratic, quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

When might singular be a better fit than erratic?

In some situations, the words singular and erratic are roughly equivalent. However, singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

When would strange be a good substitute for erratic?

While the synonyms strange and erratic are close in meaning, strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

When is it sensible to use unique instead of erratic?

The synonyms unique and erratic are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 erratic In the months following the birth of their son, fans and gossip magazines worried about Bieber’s mental health due to an uptick in erratic Instagram posts, mostly of him smoking blunts. Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2025 That all comes against the backdrop of Trump’s erratic trade strategy, which the administration has said will create domestic jobs and create a resurgence in domestic manufacturing. Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 3 July 2025 Business remains erratic at Carmel’s, a downtown Asheville staple known for Southern comfort food, where servers are struggling to earn a week’s pay over the course of an entire month. Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2025 China’s export growth has shown some resilience in recent months, even as the erratic U.S. tariff policies disrupted global trade. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for erratic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for erratic
Adjective
  • This behaviour can also be triggered by a random and undefined phrase or prompt.
    Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • Keppler notes that the 10-year time frame isn’t random.
    Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • However, reaching these outcomes takes more than just sporadic posts.
    Jonathan Schwartz, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
  • The monsoon season is now here and has brought deadly flash flooding along old burn scars in Ruidoso, New Mexico, while distributing sporadic rain in the state’s Gila National Forest.
    Abe Streep, ProPublica, 22 July 2025
Adjective
  • Some 40 of these bizarre, geochemically-active sub-Neptunes are currently being studied observationally.
    Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • As a result of a bizarre last-minute decision, the nominees in two Emmys categories will be announced Tuesday morning on CBS nearly four hours ahead of the TV Academy’s official nominations announcement, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
    Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Ozzy also did his own occasional tours, including a stop at the Bradley Center on Dec. 14 of that year.
    Chris Foran, jsonline.com, 23 July 2025
  • The Hunting Wives is led by Margo Banks (Malin Akerman), the wife of a Republican politician who, when not pounding bottles of wine and partaking in the occasional menage a trois, is refining her skills on the gun range.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 22 July 2025
Adjective
  • Long runs over uneven, rocky trail comes with its share of foot issues, but few sacrifices are greater than those poor keratin creatures attached to your precious foot fingers.
    Kade Krichko, Outside Online, 22 July 2025
  • The injuries have compounded an uneven season for the sophomore standout, who over her last seven games is averaging 12.3 points on 29.4% shooting, including 14.3% on 3-pointers.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 July 2025
Adjective
  • Roman looks for instability in the first stars Perhaps the most exciting cosmic explosion discovery that Roman could make would be the observation of the strange explosive death of the universe's first stars.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 July 2025
  • Whether by design or chance, the selflessness helped compensate for a strange approach that impacted his singing for roughly half the show.
    Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
Adjective
  • There are no longer arbitrary divisions in which people say that different functions aren’t their job or concern.
    Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Marylanders deserve a civil justice system that recognizes the full scope of human suffering and empowers citizen juries to render verdicts based on evidence rather than arbitrary limitations.
    Bruce M. Plaxen, Baltimore Sun, 12 July 2025
Adjective
  • There’s a reason for that: Fire hose again, coupled with intermittent kinks and leaks.
    Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 12 July 2025
  • Dietary changes such as intermittent fasting, caloric restriction, and ketogenic diet with regular exercise can prevent MASH or delay its progression.
    Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 12 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Erratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/erratic. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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