eccentric
Off the norm
Eccentric describes something or someone deviating from the norm, especially in behavior or personality.
An eccentric person has unusual habits or unconventional ways: My eccentric aunt collects vintage typewriters and talks to her plants.
The word carries affection more than criticism—eccentricity suggests harmless oddity rather than troubling deviance.
In technical contexts, eccentric means off-center: an eccentric wheel doesn't rotate around its middle.
As a noun, an eccentric is a person known for peculiar behavior: The neighborhood eccentric fed pigeons at exactly 3 PM daily.
Idiosyncratically unusual
- idiosyncraticDistinctively individual in nature
- unconventionalDeparting from standard practice
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
capricious · whimsical · kooky · zany · offbeat · flaky · peculiar · odd
Playfully fanciful or erratic
- delightfulHighly pleasing, wonderful
- endearingArousing fondness or affection
- quaintAttractively unfamiliar, outdated
- quirkyIdiosyncratically unusual
colorful · amusing · captivating · offbeat · fanciful · curious · intriguing · enchanting
Rejects prevailing social standards
- maverickIndependent-minded rule-breaker
- oddballEccentric individual
- characterNature, symbol, or role
- originalFirst or inventive
individualist · bohemian · misfit · outsider · crackpot · crank · kook · weirdo
Imaginative planner of futures
- geniusPerson of rare brilliance
- inventiveShowing original thought
- avant-gardeInnovative cultural pioneers
- innovativeIntroducing new ideas
experimental · unconventional · unorthodox · imaginative · artistic · original · surrealist · boundary-pushing
quirky
Idiosyncratically unusual
- idiosyncraticDistinctively individual in nature
- unconventionalDeparting from standard practice
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
erratic · capricious · whimsical · kooky · zany · offbeat · flaky · peculiar · odd · strange
whimsical
Playfully fanciful or erratic
- delightfulHighly pleasing, wonderful
- endearingArousing fondness or affection
- quaintAttractively unfamiliar, outdated
quirky · colorful · amusing · captivating · offbeat · fanciful · curious · intriguing · enchanting · lovable
nonconformist
Rejects prevailing social standards
original · individualist · bohemian · misfit · outsider · crackpot · crank · kook · weirdo · freak
visionary
Imaginative planner of futures
- geniusPerson of rare brilliance
- inventiveShowing original thought
- avant-gardeInnovative cultural pioneers
innovative · experimental · unconventional · unorthodox · imaginative · artistic · original · surrealist · boundary-pushing · groundbreaking
elliptical
Oval-shaped or indirect
- orbitalRevolving around another
- aphelionFarthest point from sun
- perihelionOrbital point nearest sun
elongated · deviation · perturbation · Halley · comet · Pluto · Sedna · asteroid · Kepler · trajectory
- Nonconformistsnonconformist, rebels, rebel, misfits, misfit
- absent-minded professormessy desk, wild hair, forgetful, lost keys, mismatched socks
- Odditiescuriosity, curio, unusual, odd, strange
- strangenessodd, weird, strange, bizarre, peculiar
- traitshonesty, ambitious, brave, calm, kindness
- comedy typesclown, satire, parody, farce, slapstick
eccentricconventional
Following accepted practices
conformist · orthodox · mainstream · traditional · normal
eccentricconventional
Following accepted practices
conformist · ordinary · typical · average · unremarkable
- eccentric geniusPeculiar person of brilliance
- eccentric charactersUnusual, peculiar personalities
- eccentric orbitNon-circular celestial path