quiz·zi·cal
ˈkwi-zi-kəl 
1
: comically quaint
a quizzical old man
2
: mildly teasing or mocking
a quizzical remark
3
: expressive of puzzlement, curiosity, or disbelief
raised a quizzical eyebrow
quiz·zi·cal·i·ty
ˌkwizəˈkalətē
plural -es
: quizzicalness
quizzicality mixed with slow amiable shrewdness—
R. P. Warren
R. P. WarrenExamples of quizzical in a Sentence
Adjective
He gave me a quizzical look.
There was a quizzical expression on his face.
She raised a quizzical eyebrow when she saw what he was wearing.
Recent Examples on the Web
James Wood, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Carpenter responded with a quizzical frown.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Lane was gifted with that kind of face and personality, too, replete with diagonal eyebrows that join his cheekbones in a quizzical demeanor that, throughout his career, has signaled the joys of life.
—Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2026
There won’t be any TikTok dances near Amen Corner, nor quizzical reels filmed with Jason Kelce under the Big Oak.
—Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 6 Apr. 2026
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Adjective
By widening the lens, Clark is able to redirect the book’s gaze from the mother toward a quizzical, sometimes critical, but not unaffectionate portrait of two generations of political activism, with the attendant self-involvement and domestic negligence.
—James Wood, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Carpenter responded with a quizzical frown.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Lane was gifted with that kind of face and personality, too, replete with diagonal eyebrows that join his cheekbones in a quizzical demeanor that, throughout his career, has signaled the joys of life.
—Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2026
There won’t be any TikTok dances near Amen Corner, nor quizzical reels filmed with Jason Kelce under the Big Oak.
—Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for quizzical
Cite this Entry
“Quizzical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quizzical. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
quizzical
adjective
quiz·zi·cal
ˈkwiz-i-kəl
1
: teasing in a good-natured way
2
a
: showing doubt in a good-natured way
b
: showing puzzlement or curiosity
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