Synonyms of fad
: a practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal : craze
faddishly adverb
faddishness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for fad

fashion, style, mode, vogue, fad, rage, craze mean the usage accepted by those who want to be up-to-date.

fashion is the most general term and applies to any way of dressing, behaving, writing, or performing that is favored at any one time or place.

the current fashion

style often implies a distinctive fashion adopted by people of taste.

a media baron used to traveling in style

mode suggests the fashion of the moment among those anxious to appear elegant and sophisticated.

slim bodies are the mode at this resort

vogue stresses the wide acceptance of a fashion.

short skirts are back in vogue

fad suggests caprice in taking up or in dropping a fashion.

last year's fad is over

rage and craze stress intense enthusiasm in adopting a fad.

Cajun food was the rage nearly everywhere for a time
crossword puzzles once seemed just a passing craze but have lasted

Examples of fad in a Sentence

Noun (1) She's always interested in the latest fads. once the fad for that kind of music had passed, nobody would have been caught dead listening to it
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
D’Souza has tested many of the agents that have experienced fads over the last year, like OpenClaw and Hermes Agent. — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 22 Oct. 2026 Where the trend heads from here The comeback isn’t a passing fad. — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026 Fit for a king Mai’s arrival in England coincided with a fad for Pacific cultures that had risen to new heights in 1773, when a blockbuster compilation of accounts of Pacific expeditions, which included Cook’s first voyage, was published. — Saar Shahar, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026 Even though denim trends evolve like any other fad, there’s far less diversity in type and style to fret over. — Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fad

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1867, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fad was in 1867

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Cite this Entry

“Fad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fad. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

: a practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal : craze

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