outlandish

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 15, 2026 is: outlandish • out-LAN-dish  • adjective Outlandish can describe things that are strikingly strange or unusual; in this use, it’s a synonym of bizarre. Outlandish can also describe things, such as claims, rumors, and accusations, that go beyond reasonable limits or standards. // One of the author’s greatest strengths is her ability to write outlandish characters whose quirks remain lodged in readers’ minds long after they’ve finished the book. // When asked to back up his outlandish claims, the mayor quickly changed the subject, all but admitting that he had no proof for his allegations. See the entry > Examples: “In a successful book for children, no matter what outlandish stuff might be happening on the page, young readers will see their real emotions faithfully represented there ...” — Caroline Carson, Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026 Did you know? For some, the grass isn’t necessarily greener on the other side of the fence—it may also be very, very strange. The side-eye that skeptical sorts cast toward visitors from parts yonder is embedded in the history of the ancient word outlandish. In Old English someone described as “outlandish” came from an outland, i.e., a foreign land. Within a few hundred years, outlandish had broadened in use to describe anything unfamiliar or strange. It’s now commonly applied to things—especially things people do, wear, or say—that are strikingly out of the ordinary, or even just beyond reasonable or proper limits or standards. But lest you mistake us for equating outlandish with wrong or bad, consider this line from a review of a Dr. Seuss book once published in Time: “Its illustrations are properly outlandish, and its verses are zany and catchy enough for many rereadings.”