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 Cryptocurrency The crypto market remains at the mercy of overall market sentiment, swinging along with stocks on Trump's tariff whims However, business intelligence company Stratagy remains a buyer. Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025 But the funding streams would ultimately be at the whims of Congress, which is considering a wide range of spending cuts so Republicans can enact a sweeping tax reform package. Jessika Harkay, Hartford Courant, 17 Mar. 2025 The book is filled with similar anecdotes that capture the peculiar indignities of those catering to the whims of the most powerful people in the world. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2025 One more plank of the United States’ global influence goes dark at the president’s whim. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for whim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whim
Noun
  • Thibodeau shot down the notion Anunoby will be resigned to spacing the floor in the corners once Brunson returns to the lineup.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025
  • This notion leads to several different economic reasons for having tariffs, such as encouraging the purchase of domestic goods and altering foreign economic policy.
    Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The path drops away steeply, on one side into scientific sterility and on the other into artistic caprice.
    Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 7 Feb. 2025
  • An e-mail publication was invulnerable to the caprices of social-media platforms and their algorithms.
    Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • With Neptune gliding through your third house of communication, learning and mental processes, everything from your thoughts to the dynamics of your inner circles will undergo a subtle but powerful transformation.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • The most widely used are: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This form of talk therapy involves identifying the thought processes that trigger your anger and then implementing methods to notice those thoughts and manage your anger.
    Wendy Wisner, Health, 30 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
  • The show is co-created by Rick Riordan and based on his fantasy book series.
    Raven Brunner, People.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Over the course of his career, Reynoso has designed costumes from dozens of time periods, as well as different countries, and even timeless fantasy periods.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Here’s another winner from Serena & Lily which plays with pompom accents in neutral hues for a dose of whimsy.
    Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Spring tablescapes have a way of bringing out our inner whimsy with floral placemats, colorful candlesticks, and now (again) with cabbageware: dishes that look like cabbage.
    Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The lemon juice and fresh parsley balance out the richness, while the blue cheese adds a creamy contrast that makes each bite feel a little fancy (without too much effort).
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2025
  • There’s nothing wrong with outlandish flights of fancy on the movie screen.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 28 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Whim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whim. Accessed 11 Apr. 2025.

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