strange
6 antonyms and opposites of strange, grouped by meaning.
Adjective — Unusual, odd, or surprising, and not what you would expect.
Antonyms
How to use strange
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French "estrange," from Latin "extraneus" ("that which is on the outside") — the same root as "extraneous" and "estrange."
Full origin of strange →Frequently asked questions
What does “strange” mean?
The word “strange” means unusual, odd, or surprising, and not what you would expect. In plain terms, odd, unfamiliar, or hard to explain.
How do you pronounce “strange”?
“Strange” is pronounced straynj (/stɹeɪnd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “strange” in a sentence?
Here is “strange” used in a sentence: “There was a strange smell coming from the basement.”
What is another word for “strange”?
Words with a similar meaning to “strange” include aberrant, abnormal, alien, anomalous, as queer as Dick's hatband and bizarre.
What is the opposite of “strange”?
The opposite of “strange” — its antonyms — are common, familiar, inevitable, intermediate and moderate.
What part of speech is “strange”?
“Strange” is an adjective.
Where does the word “strange” come from?
The word “strange” comes from Latin. From Old French "estrange," from Latin "extraneus" ("that which is on the outside") — the same root as "extraneous" and "estrange.".
Is “strange” a common word?
“Strange” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between strange and weird?
The two are close, and often interchangeable, but weird tends to feel stronger and more unsettling. Strange simply means unusual or unexpected, and can be quite mild — a strange noise, a strange coincidence. Weird often adds a sense of the eerie or downright bizarre. All weird things are strange, but not all strange things are weird.
What is the opposite of strange?
The usual opposites are normal, ordinary and familiar. Something that behaves exactly as expected is unremarkable or typical, while a person or place you know well feels familiar rather than strange. Which antonym fits depends on the sense: 'normal' counters oddness, while 'familiar' counters the feeling of something being unknown.
Is strange a negative word?
Not necessarily. Strange is largely neutral and simply marks something as unusual or unexpected. Tone and context decide its colour: a 'strange feeling' can be unsettling, yet 'strangely beautiful' is a compliment. It can signal mild unease, curiosity or even wonder, so whether it feels negative depends entirely on how it is used.