Emphasizing strangeness:
* It was an odd word, pride, like a foreign coin rolling around on your tongue.
* It was an odd word, pride, like a rusty key in a forgotten lock.
* It was an odd word, pride, like a broken compass pointing in no direction.
Emphasizing unexpectedness:
* It was an odd word, pride, like a rainbow in a blizzard.
* It was an odd word, pride, like a firefly in the middle of the day.
* It was an odd word, pride, like a whisper in a crowded room.
Emphasizing complexity:
* It was an odd word, pride, like a knot you can't unravel.
* It was an odd word, pride, like a puzzle with missing pieces.
* It was an odd word, pride, like a song you can't quite remember.
The best simile for you will depend on the specific context and tone of your writing.