1
as in bizarre
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion
an offbeat approach to the task, but it gets the job done
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2
as in unusual
noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced
this writer has an enjoyably offbeat sense of humor
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of offbeat
But a number of other celebrities are recommending surprisingly literary, offbeat and even kids book recommendations.
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Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
The New York Post published photos of her brother Jack Schlossberg, the offbeat leftist influencer and New York congressional candidate, hours after her death was made public.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
While exploring Lake Worth Beach’s quaint downtown, don’t miss The Dancing Elephant, an offbeat indie bookstore with deep roots.
—Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2025
There was the campus, red brick and lush grass, an offbeat blend of 20th-century construction and New England charm that felt unpolished in the best way.
—Lucy Feldman, Time, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offbeat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offbeat
Adjective
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His work is marked by unusual, even bizarre, material choices that encrust spatial compositions reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s innovative open space plans.—
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Some unnamed Chicago bartender in the early 1880s had the improbable idea of taking a Whiskey Sour and adding a little red wine to the top, inventing in a bizarre flash of insightone of the great warm weather whiskey drinks of our time.—
Adjective
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While filming an unboxing video wasn’t unusual, having to do it before the dog park left him puzzled.—
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The same law says any driver is allowed to flash lights to indicate the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking or passing.—
Adjective
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The language is also often inviting, sometimes funny, like a real person telling you a real story from their real voice and body.—
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Still, the over-the-top direction the episode goes in did lead to plenty of funny moments off-camera.—
Adjective
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Engineers with PennDOT said the slide sent debris across both lanes of I-79 in an area where landslides are not uncommon.—
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Serious side effects are uncommon, but high-dose treatment for deficiency can occasionally cause low potassium levels.—
Adjective
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The sounds had become a strange new normal for the diverse Central neighborhood.—
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And there was a strange preoccupation with running out of time, even though the show ended a good 15 minutes early as if the performers didn’t understand their own timeline.—
Adjective
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The then-unknown Michael Shannon, whose early career roles in Chicago were every bit as weird as this play, starred in that production.—
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But this year, due to weird scheduling, the BAFTA nods will come out on January 27, after the Oscar nominations.—
Adjective
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Toronto netminder Dennis Hildeby stoned Trevor Zegras on a breakaway, and later made consecutive saves on Matvei Michkov and Sean Couturier to spring the odd-man rush that led to Cowan's goal.—
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The details of Cooper’s crime seemed too tempting to McNally, a high school dropout turned military-airplane electrician who’d pursued odd jobs and scams since being discharged.—
Adjective
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Two of the monkeys had applauded the event with hopping and grunts, but the other three had shot like arrows into the trees, chasing after the peculiar bird that had remained indifferent to their antics.—
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That left nine peculiar, small objects that were slightly larger than a single point of light in the data.—
Cite this Entry
“Offbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offbeat. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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