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Synonyms

weirdo

American  
[weer-doh] / ˈwɪər doʊ /

noun

Informal.

plural

weirdos
  1. an odd, eccentric, or unconventional person.

  2. a psychopath, especially a dangerous or vicious one; psycho.

    They caught the weirdo who attacked the children.


weirdo British  
/ ˈwɪədəʊ, ˈwɪədɪ /

noun

  1. informal a person who behaves in a bizarre or eccentric manner

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does weirdo mean? A weirdo is a person who behaves in ways that are considered odd or unconventional. Weirdo is based on the adjective weird, which most commonly means strange, odd, peculiar, or bizarre. Weirdo is very informal. It can be used both negatively as an insult and positively as a compliment, depending on how you feel about someone else’s weird behavior. Much less commonly, weirdo can be used as an informal term for a person considered a dangerous psychopath. Example: My dog keeps licking the wall—what a weirdo!

Etymology

Origin of weirdo

First recorded in 1950–55; weird + -o

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I’m such a weirdo, anxiety-ridden, stressed-out control freak. I don’t know how to have fun, so I’m doing my best,” Linda Perry told the crowd at a sold-out Roxy Theatre last December.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

I’m a weirdo and I like to work.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

Continuing Adult Swim’s absurdist legacy, Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel’s weirdo workplace comedy achieved new heights and pointed relevance in its third season.

From Salon • Dec. 19, 2025

A weirdo dog lets you “show your individuality,” said Terence Nelson, 38, an influencer marketing strategist in New York whose fuzzy Brussels griffon, Sue, is a dead ringer for an Ewok.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

Finally he was ready to stop being a weirdo and tell me whatever it was he was trying to get me to understand.

From "Patina" by Jason Reynolds