Thesaurus results for WHIM

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

whim

noun

ˈ(h)wim

Definition of whim

as in notion

a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action on a whim, we stopped at the roadside stand to get ice cream

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 All of this makes the recent terminations tricky for OpenAI and shows that safety disclosures are still very much at the whims of the labs. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026 This is hardly new, and scream queens, in particular, are often left to the whims of the internet. — Mariam Bagdady, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026 And where they, too, are terrified by the whims of those above them. — Mark Lilla, The New York Review of Books, 29 Sep. 2026 There are many reasons the United States needs clear, stable regulations on artificial intelligence, rather than relying on the whims of a leader. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for whim

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whim

Noun

Such long-term investment is difficult to reconcile with the notion of an imminent military confrontation.

— Ningrong Liu, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
The civic organization has questioned whether his scrutiny over its finances and a reverter clause in the youth center’s deed is politically motivated, a notion Lago denies.

— Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of notion

Noun

Ye-ji has a hunky hedge-fund-type husband, Sang-woo (Zo In-sung), who condescendingly tolerates, but doesn’t finance, his wife’s cinematic caprices.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
But Gurdon doesn’t hold up the caprices and improvisations of her childhood as either a model or a cautionary tale.

— Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of caprice

Noun

The costume is the perfect excuse to dig out your skinny jeans, going-out top and pumps for a throwback to the aughts—a scary thought in itself.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
The prospect of losing that status can make the thought of escape unpalatable even for people who detest the regime.

— Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of thought

Noun

Our reality is Swift’s nightmare of statistics and algorithms; mechanization and industrialization as commenced without any concern for the vagaries of the beating human heart.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
Rather than relying on the vagaries of the three ball, the Hawks kept driving inside for layups and dunks and ended up outscoring Charlotte 54-34 in the paint.

— Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of vagary

Noun

The syrupy strings, treacly piano and awed choral vocals conjure an atmosphere of strained enchantment, suggesting a film burdened by fatal amounts of whimsy and emotional manipulation.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
The pastries are the highlight, while the lacquer music box presentation remains a memorable moment of whimsy.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of whimsy

Noun

What began as an industry of light and illusion had, by the 1940s, become a machinery of control—an empire built on fantasy, running on fear.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 27 Oct. 2026
Released to critical acclaim in 2022, the role-playing game from Japanese publisher Bandai Namco is set in a dark fantasy world and allows players to head off on adventures within vast environments and dungeons.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of fantasy

Noun

If that isn’t enough to strike your fancy, Best Buy just put it on sale for $550 off.

— Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
With so many cultivars available, your best bet is to browse the nursery or online catalogues to see what strikes your fancy.

— Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of fancy

Noun

The video posted on the university’s official social media accounts asked students to do an impression of McAfee.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
In the dining nook below, designed by Goesling Group, the minimal fixture makes a major impression.

— Amanda Sims, Architectural Digest, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of impression

Browse Nearby Words

whilst

whim

whimper

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Whim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whim. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of whim

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

satiate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes