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

Examples 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 Import more electric power Building more transmission to import electricity from out-of-state generators is not climate-friendly, leaves Maryland more vulnerable to the whims of others, and would be resisted by residents affected by the transmission. Alex Pavlak, Baltimore Sun, 6 Jan. 2025 Here weapons ordered into existence decades ago to fight the West were revived for final acts against a new generation of Russian soldiers, sent over the border by the whim of the Kremlin’s latest occupant — a long and winding case of the boomerang effect, aided by Chinese consumer tech. C.j. Chivers Robert Fass Krish Seenivasan Steven Szczesniak, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024 No description can capture the rush of the game or the general anarchy wrought by the whims of the dice and the spontaneity of the players. Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2024 Fraught alliances, palace politics, knifings in the dark, and Trump’s whims will send economic security policy reeling. Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 23 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for whim 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whim
Noun
  • Like an adult version of the Heathers of Heathers, the trio are bound by a notion of friendship that is stronger than the truth it is based on.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Not all of these movies have made money, but all of them bask in the glow of success, heralding the notion that the business is confident of doing well while doing good.
    Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Most important, Afghanistan’s citizens have come to expect a more predictable experience when crossing borders, less subject to the whims and caprice of officials.
    George Gavrilis, Foreign Affairs, 4 June 2015
  • Back when podcasting wasn’t co-opted by YouTube, the idea was that owning your own successful podcast insulates you from being completely beholden to the caprice of social-media algorithms.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2024
Noun
  • The Social Media Reaction After Madison's theory went viral on TikTok, many people were quick to share their thoughts on her perspective.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
  • After analyzing these thoughts, create a 'mental decluttering' plan with daily practices to keep my mind clear and focused.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes, 17 Jan. 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
  • The fantasy adventure will premiere at Sundance Film Festival as planned, with Saxon and cast in attendance at the Park City debut.
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Best known for roles in the Netflix fantasy series Sweet Tooth and Universal’s hit horror comedy Cocaine Bear, Convery is repped by Innovative and Entertainment 360.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Maximalists embrace eclectic collections, lots of color and texture, and a sense of whimsy.
    Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Jan. 2025
  • There’s a lot of whimsy, but the cuteness is intertwined with tough stuff, too difficult to be saccharine.
    Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • If the idea of nature powering electronics tickles your fancy, check out this recyclable battery made from zinc and crab shells, and even this edible rechargeable battery made using seaweed.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Questions about the social utility of what writers did—questions that have plagued many writers, then and now—weighed heavily on midcentury Italian intellectuals, whose experience of recent history discouraged flights of fancy.
    Christopher Tayler, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near whim

Cite this Entry

“Whim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whim. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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