odds and ends

plural noun

Definition of odds and endsnext
1
as in novelties
small useful items she's always searching among the odds and ends in the drawer for some tool that she needs

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2
as in rest
a remaining group or portion almost all of the piece of leather will be needed for upholstering the chair, so just throw away any odds and ends

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of odds and ends Sterling Silver Flatware With the price of silver on the rise, many odds and ends pieces can be purchased and resold for a tidy profit—or kept for yourself. — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 17 May 2026 All the little odds and ends of daily life tend to get strewn everywhere, and no one wants to add an ugly plastic bin or cardboard box to the space just to throw things like remote controls, cords, and keys in. — Sarah Scott, Southern Living, 19 June 2026 For additional guidance on creative ways to use your leftover odds and ends, listen to this episode of NPR's Life Kit. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 July 2026 There were also drawings, many of them self-portraits, and a number of other historical odds and ends, including a magazine featuring a young Henry Winkler at the height of The Fonz’s popularity. — Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for odds and ends
Recent Examples of Synonyms for odds and ends
sundries
Plural Noun
  • There’s also a guide that shares where to find sundries like hot sauces, jams and spices produced by companies with owners from Black, Indigenous or other marginalized communities.
    — Devorah Lev-Tov, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Nov. 2022
  • This is the place to stock up on baking ingredients, retro toys, candles, greeting cards and sundries.
    — Necee Regis, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022
Definition of sundries

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odds
odds and ends
oddsmaker
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Cite this Entry

“Odds and ends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/odds%20and%20ends. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on odds and ends

Nglish: Translation of odds and ends for Spanish Speakers

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