Synonym Chooser

How is the word whim distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of whim are caprice, crotchet, and vagary. While all these words mean "an irrational or unpredictable idea or desire," whim implies a fantastic, capricious turn of mind or inclination.

an odd antique that was bought on a whim

Where would caprice be a reasonable alternative to whim?

While in some cases nearly identical to whim, caprice stresses lack of apparent motivation and suggests willfulness.

by sheer caprice she quit her job

When can crotchet be used instead of whim?

The words crotchet and whim are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, crotchet implies an eccentric opinion or preference.

a serious scientist equally known for his bizarre crotchets

When would vagary be a good substitute for whim?

The meanings of vagary and whim largely overlap; however, vagary stresses the erratic, irresponsible character of the notion or desire.

he had been prone to strange vagaries

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 whim Still, there were no guarantees of how much green steel tech Gary would get; a company town inevitably depends on the whims and fortunes of its company. Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025 But this has also been driven by Russian threats and growing recognition that European security should be less dependent on the whims of Washington. Isabelle Khurshudyan and Ellen Francis The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 9 Feb. 2025 The tantrums on social media and stern, tough-guy prose from behind the resolute desk are getting results and moving various countries to cater to his whims or reassess their previous positions. Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2025 Now, women are at the center of efforts to give the country lasting protections against the whims of strongmen. Pamodi Waravita, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for whim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whim
Noun
  • More important, the notion of having U.S. mining operations on or near the border between the Ukraine and Russia, especially the bord is with its occupied Ukrainian territory, to serve as a deterrence to future military action is hardly going to appeal to most private companies.
    Michael Lynch, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • What Fuller did, however, was challenge this notion, Powell said.
    Kristen Rogers, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • But Cass is not the man to beat his head in bitterness over female caprice.
    Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 27 Feb. 2025
  • But all of this is merely the set-up for the major mishap that happens — a kind of cosmic caprice.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 20 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Much has been made of the Drake and Kendrick Lamar feud of 2024, and Xzibit has chimed in with some thoughts on the historic battle, as well as what’s fair when embroiled in a rap beef.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Propper Daley’s invite-only A Day of Unreasonable Conversation will stay on the schedule as an annual gathering of thought leaders and entertainment industry insiders.
    Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Vape shops have spread across the American retail landscape with a bizarre swiftness, seemingly unbeholden to the same vagaries of inflation, customer demand, and local real estate that bind every other kind of storefront small business in the country.
    Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 22 June 2023
  • Third, repeaters should prove capable of swapping this data between nodes in a network in a predictable way and not one too subject to the vagaries of chance.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 13 June 2023
Noun
  • An arena spectacle with WWE auras is unusual for Dungeons & Dragons, the famously nerdy tabletop game of fantasy heroics and lucky (or unlucky) rolls of dice.
    Eric Francisco, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2025
  • The fantasy relevance for tight ends as slow as Helm just isn’t there.
    Steve Bradshaw, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • A lot of that comes from knowing and experience, but that doesn’t mean there’s reason to let go of the whimsy.
    Katie Bain, Billboard, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Certain ideas — a sweater made of flyaway feathers, a gradient that molted into florals around the collar and dresses with untamed bows — hinted at a greater whimsy lying somewhere below the surface.
    Jacob Gallagher, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • This reminds us of another famous strip that once caught his fancy: Atlantic City, New Jersey.
    Herald readers, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Incentives are promised, ideas take hold and our fancies consume our lives.
    Lisa Stardust, refinery29.com, 24 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Whim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whim. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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