Strange vs. Weird: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Strange refers to the unfamiliar or unexpected, while weird implies a sense of the supernatural or bizarre.
Key Differences
Strange typically describes something unfamiliar or unexpected, often evoking surprise or curiosity. It can refer to situations, people, or objects that deviate from what is considered normal or usual. Weird, on the other hand, carries a connotation of the supernatural or bizarre. This word often implies an eerie or uncanny quality that can evoke discomfort or fascination.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 21, 2023
In usage, strange often pertains to encounters or experiences that are out of the ordinary, but not necessarily unsettling. For example, meeting someone with an unusual hobby might be considered strange. Weird, however, is more likely to be used in contexts where there's a sense of otherworldliness or a deviation from natural laws. It's associated more with the inexplicable or the mystically unusual.
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Nov 21, 2023
The emotional response elicited by strange is generally milder compared to weird. Encountering something strange might make one feel curious or intrigued. In contrast, something that is described as weird might provoke a stronger, more visceral reaction, such as unease or bewilderment, due to its association with the unnatural or the extraordinary.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 21, 2023
Strange can sometimes have a neutral or even positive connotation, depending on the context. For instance, a strange idea might be innovative or creatively refreshing. Weird, however, is often viewed in a more negative light, suggesting something is not just unusual, but uncomfortably or eerily so. It has a stronger implication of deviation from the norm.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 21, 2023
In literature and art, strange is often used to describe the exotic or the unfamiliar, evoking a sense of wonder. In contrast, weird is frequently employed in genres like horror or fantasy to denote elements that are supernatural or beyond the realm of the ordinary, often creating a sense of unease or mystery.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 21, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Connotation
Generally neutral, implying unfamiliarity
Often negative, implying unnatural or supernatural qualities
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Nov 21, 2023
Emotional Response
Curiosity or surprise
Discomfort, unease, or bewilderment
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Nov 21, 2023
Usage in Context
Unusual but explainable situations
Unexplainable, eerie, or otherworldly scenarios
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Literary Use
Describes the exotic or unfamiliar
Employed in horror or fantasy for supernatural elements
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Flexibility
Can have positive implications
Generally skewed towards negative implications
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Nov 21, 2023
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Strange and Weird Definitions
Strange
Deviating from the normal or usual.
It's strange to see a cat walking on two legs.
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Nov 21, 2023
Weird
Connected with or using supernatural powers.
The witch cast a weird spell on the town.
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Nov 21, 2023
Strange
Unfamiliar or not previously known.
She had a strange feeling she was being watched.
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Nov 21, 2023
Weird
Strikingly odd or unusual, especially in an unsettling way; strange
He lives in a weird old house on a dark street. Your neighbor is said to be a little weird. I felt a little weird after drinking that tea.
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Oct 19, 2023
Strange
Not previously known; unfamiliar
Saw lots of strange faces at the reception.
Heard music that was strange to me.
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Oct 19, 2023
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Strange
Not of one's own or a particular locality, environment, or kind; not native
Came across a flower that was strange to the region.
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Oct 19, 2023
Strange
Out of the ordinary or difficult to account for; unusual or peculiar
Events took a strange twist last week.
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Oct 19, 2023
Strange
Reserved in manner; distant or cool
The once affable man slowly became strange to his friends.
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Oct 19, 2023
Strange
Not comfortable or at ease
I felt strange and out of place at the party because I didn't know any of the guests.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weird
Slang To experience or cause to experience an odd, unusual, and sometimes uneasy sensation. Often used with out.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weird
Having an unusually strange character or behaviour.
There are lots of weird people in this place.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weird
Deviating from the normal; bizarre.
It was quite weird to bump into all my ex-girlfriends on the same day.
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Oct 19, 2023
Strange
Not normal; odd, unusual, surprising, out of the ordinary.
He thought it strange that his girlfriend wore shorts in the winter.
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Oct 19, 2023
Strange
Unfamiliar, not yet part of one's experience.
I moved to a strange town when I was ten.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weird
(archaic) Of or pertaining to witches or witchcraft; supernatural; unearthly; suggestive of witches, witchcraft, or unearthliness; wild; uncanny.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weird
(archaic) Having supernatural or preternatural power.
There was a weird light shining above the hill.
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Oct 19, 2023
Strange
(particle physics) Having the quantum mechanical property of strangeness.
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Oct 19, 2023
Strange
Belonging to another country; foreign.
One of the strange queen's lords.
I do not contemn the knowledge of strange and divers tongues.
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Oct 19, 2023
Strange
Of or pertaining to others; not one's own; not pertaining to one's self; not domestic.
So she, impatient her own faults to see,Turns from herself, and in strange things delights.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weird
Of or pertaining to witchcraft; caused by, or suggesting, magical influence; supernatural; unearthly; wild; as, a weird appearance, look, sound, etc.
Myself too had weird seizures.
Those sweet, low tones, that seemed like a weird incantation.
The weird sisters, hand in hand,Posters of the sea and land.
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Oct 19, 2023
Strange
Not before known, heard, or seen; new.
Here is the hand and seal of the duke; you know the character, I doubt not; and the signet is not strange to you.
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Oct 19, 2023
Strange
Not according to the common way; novel; odd; unusual; irregular; extraordinary; unnatural; queer.
Sated at length, erelong I might perceiveStrange alteration in me.
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Oct 19, 2023
Strange
Reserved; distant in deportment.
She may be strange and shy at first, but will soon learn to love thee.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weird
Suggesting the operation of supernatural influences;
An eldritch screech
The three weird sisters
Stumps...had uncanny shapes as of monstrous creatures
An unearthly light
He could hear the unearthly scream of some curlew piercing the din
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Oct 19, 2023
Strange
Backward; slow.
Who, loving the effect, would not be strangeIn favoring the cause.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weird
Strikingly odd or unusual;
Some trick of the moonlight; some weird effect of shadow
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Oct 19, 2023
Strange
Not familiar; unaccustomed; inexperienced.
In thy fortunes am unlearned and strange.
Strange! what extremes should thus preserve the snowHigh on the Alps, or in deep caves below.
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Oct 19, 2023
Weird
Suggestive of the supernatural; uncanny.
The weird noises at night scared the campers.
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Nov 21, 2023
Weird
Strikingly odd or unusual, especially in an unsettling way.
He had a weird habit of talking to himself.
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Nov 21, 2023
Weird
Bizarre or freakish.
That movie had some really weird special effects.
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Nov 21, 2023
Weird
Departing from the normal in a way that causes bewilderment or anxiety.
Her weird behavior at the party raised eyebrows.
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Nov 21, 2023
Strange
Being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird;
A strange exaltation that was indefinable
A strange fantastical mind
What a strange sense of humor she has
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Oct 19, 2023
Strange
Not known before;
Used many strange words
Saw many strange faces in the crowd
Don't let anyone unknown into the house
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Oct 19, 2023
Strange
Not at ease or comfortable;
Felt strange among so many important people
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Oct 19, 2023
Strange
Peculiar or odd in a surprising way.
The strange artifact puzzled the archaeologists.
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Nov 21, 2023
Strange
Not previously encountered or experienced.
Visiting the remote village was a strange experience for them.
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Nov 21, 2023
Strange
Not easily explained or understood.
There was a strange light in the sky last night.
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Nov 21, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Are "strange" and "weird" interchangeable?
Not always, as "weird" implies a stronger sense of the supernatural or bizarre.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 21, 2023
Can something be both strange and weird?
Yes, if it is both unfamiliar and eerily supernatural.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 21, 2023
Is "strange" always negative?
No, "strange" can be neutral or even positive, depending on the context.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 21, 2023
Is "strange" used in scientific contexts?
Yes, to describe unexplained phenomena or new discoveries.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 21, 2023
Is "weird" a modern word?
No, it has old English origins, linked to fate or destiny.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 21, 2023
Does "strange" imply danger?
Not necessarily, it's more about unfamiliarity.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 21, 2023
Can "weird" be used positively?
Rarely, as it often has a negative or eerie connotation.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 21, 2023
Can "weird" be used in formal writing?
It can be, but it's more common in informal or creative contexts.
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Nov 21, 2023
Is "weird" used in psychology?
Rarely in clinical terms, but it can be used in colloquial discussions of behavior.
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Nov 21, 2023
Does "weird" always mean supernatural?
Not always, but it often implies an otherworldly or eerie aspect.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 21, 2023
Are there synonyms that capture both "strange" and "weird"?
Words like "unusual" or "peculiar" can overlap with both.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can "strange" refer to people?
Yes, it can describe someone unfamiliar or behaving unusually.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 21, 2023
Is "strange" a subjective term?
Yes, what is strange to one person may be normal to another.
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Nov 21, 2023
Does "strange" have a historical context?
Yes, it's been used historically to describe foreign or exotic things.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can technology be described as "weird"?
Yes, if it's particularly unconventional or futuristic.
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Nov 21, 2023
Do "strange" and "weird" have the same emotional impact?
No, "weird" usually elicits a stronger, often more negative response.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 21, 2023
Can "weird" describe positive quirks?
It can, but it's more commonly used for unsettling oddities.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 21, 2023
Is "weird" a judgmental term?
It can be perceived as judgmental due to its often negative connotations.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can landscapes or places be "strange"?
Yes, if they are unfamiliar or unusually formed.
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Nov 21, 2023
Are "strange" and "weird" culturally specific?
Their interpretation can vary across cultures, based on norms and beliefs.
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Nov 21, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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