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curious people
fascinated people
interested people
concerned people
a curious situation
a peculiar situation
an intriguing situation
a mysterious situation
a fascinating situation
an interesting situation
a curious mixture
an unusual mixture
a strange mixture
a surprising mixture
a clever mixture
a bizarre mixture
a curious look
a peculiar look
a puzzled look
a suspicious look
an uncertain look
curious onlookers
nosy onlookers
enthralled onlookers
anxious onlookers
eager onlookers
inquisitive onlookers

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective curious contrast with its synonyms?

The words inquisitive and prying are common synonyms of curious. While all three words mean "interested in what is not one's personal or proper concern," curious, a neutral term, basically connotes an active desire to learn or to know.

children are curious about everything

When could inquisitive be used to replace curious?

The words inquisitive and curious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inquisitive suggests impertinent and habitual curiosity and persistent quizzing.

dreaded the visits of their inquisitive relatives

When is prying a more appropriate choice than curious?

The synonyms prying and curious are sometimes interchangeable, but prying implies busy meddling and officiousness.

prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business

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 curious The Last Soviet, helped the company crystallize its mission: creating shows that are curious about the future and advances in technology at a moment of uncertainty and pessimism. Max Tani, semafor.com, 14 July 2025 Be curious about your partner’s accelerators and brakes, too. Chamin Ajjan, CNBC, 12 July 2025 With how fraught the last few years of Bieber’s life and career have been, many were curious about what the sound and themes of his new album would be. Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2025 Sometimes leaders aren’t curious enough to ask what people really want. Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for curious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curious
Adjective
  • What Gunn might not have been prepared for is Corenswet’s inquisitive nature.
    Rance Collins, IndieWire, 20 July 2025
  • Thinking about what Jane would do meant to be thoughtful, inquisitive, inclusive, and leave a positive impact on the people around you.
    Abby Roedel, People.com, 19 July 2025
Adjective
  • Roman looks for instability in the first stars Perhaps the most exciting cosmic explosion discovery that Roman could make would be the observation of the strange explosive death of the universe's first stars.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 July 2025
  • An airline worker staying a night at a hotel near the airport entered their room, only to realize there was something strange about their view.
    Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
Adjective
  • Summer storms cause travel headaches every year, but these numbers are not unusual.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 26 July 2025
  • Their target area was unusual, though: a strip of lawn between the road and a fence bordering Interstate 65, where homeless people have set up about two dozen tents over the first half of this year.
    Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 26 July 2025
Adjective
  • Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are all interested, with the Reds reportedly looking at Ekitike as a first alternative to Isak if, as expected, Newcastle stands firm on his future.
    Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Taylor was never interested in letting her health hold her back from traveling.
    Angela Andaloro, People.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Some 40 of these bizarre, geochemically-active sub-Neptunes are currently being studied observationally.
    Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • As a result of a bizarre last-minute decision, the nominees in two Emmys categories will be announced Tuesday morning on CBS nearly four hours ahead of the TV Academy’s official nominations announcement, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
    Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Daytime activity is not uncommon and does not necessarily indicate rabies.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 14 July 2025
  • Such a letter is not uncommon but normally would not be public, Dubin said.
    Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • But a funny thing happened on the way to this flexible-rate nirvana.
    Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
  • His voice is too funny, too smart and too important to go quietly into the night.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 19 July 2025
Adjective
  • And that’s exactly the kind of weird the planet needs.
    Heather Wishart-Smith, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • Though country rock at their core, Roadhouse Band songs are flush with woodwinds and pedal steel, weird horns and synthesizers.
    Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Curious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curious. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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