CROTCHET Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'crotchet' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of crotchet are caprice , vagary , and whim . While all these words mean "an irrational or unpredictable idea or desire," crotchet implies an eccentric opinion or preference. // a serious scientist equally known for his bizarre crotchets

Q: When would 'caprice' be a good substitute for 'crotchet'?

The words caprice and crotchet are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, caprice stresses lack of apparent motivation and suggests willfulness. // by sheer caprice she quit her job

Q: When is 'vagary' a more appropriate choice than 'crotchet'?

In some situations, the words vagary and crotchet are roughly equivalent. However, vagary stresses the erratic, irresponsible character of the notion or desire. // he had been prone to strange vagaries

Q: Where would 'whim' be a reasonable alternative to 'crotchet'?

While the synonyms whim and crotchet are close in meaning, whim implies a fantastic, capricious turn of mind or inclination. // an odd antique that was bought on a whim

crotchet

noun

ˈkrä-chət

Definition of crotchet

as in trick

an odd or peculiar habit her one crotchet is a fondness for eating cookies while soaking in the tub

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How is the word crotchet distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of crotchet are caprice, vagary, and whim. While all these words mean "an irrational or unpredictable idea or desire," crotchet implies an eccentric opinion or preference.

a serious scientist equally known for his bizarre crotchets

When would caprice be a good substitute for crotchet?

The words caprice and crotchet are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, caprice stresses lack of apparent motivation and suggests willfulness.

by sheer caprice she quit her job

When is vagary a more appropriate choice than crotchet?

In some situations, the words vagary and crotchet are roughly equivalent. However, vagary stresses the erratic, irresponsible character of the notion or desire.

he had been prone to strange vagaries

Where would whim be a reasonable alternative to crotchet?

While the synonyms whim and crotchet are close in meaning, whim implies a fantastic, capricious turn of mind or inclination.

an odd antique that was bought on a whim

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 crotchet Eccentricities, crotchets, and hobbyhorses are such interesting intellectual drivers. — Clare Bucknell, The New York Review of Books, 27 June 2026 Think outside the box All book collectors develop distinctive crotchets. — Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024 The origins of brackets — once referred to as crotchets, crooks, or hooks — are a mystery. — Sarah Fay, Longreads, 17 Mar. 2020 Maxine attended to his every whim and crotchet, never lost faith in his brilliance or potential, and delighted in surrounding him with exactly the sort of frivolous company his wife abhorred. — Sadie Stein, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for crotchet

Noun

Tickets for the children’s museum’s trick-or-treat morning cost $3 per person aged 1 and older, and members may attend for free.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026
More Life Kit on home organization 5 clever design tricks to make a small home look bigger.

— Andee Tagle, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of trick

Noun

The traits rewarded in high-performing individual contributors—like decisiveness, high output, competitive drive—are not necessarily the same traits that make an effective manager.

— Miriam Groom, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Like Saban, Smart demands physicality, instills competitiveness and obsesses over details — traits Sumrall values, too.

— Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of trait

Noun

And judging by the amount of controversy that’s already been stirred up, Sacha Baron Cohen’s iconic character of a middle-class white Brit appropriating hip-hop and Jamaican mannerisms still has the ability to rile people.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
As on television, Seyfried nails Holmes’s wide eyes, unsteady mannerisms, deep voice, and mysterious vocal cadence that makes the character both unreal and oddly human.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of mannerism

Noun

She was arrested and charged with second-degree child endangerment after her daughter reportedly arrived at school with sunburns, sparking a media frenzy over Krentcil's extreme tanning habits and parenting.

— Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
YPulse’s reporting on Gen Z shopping habits digs into how younger buyers can treat finding affordable alternatives as a legit shopping achievement.

— Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of habit

Noun

But Lewis said justifying camera movements through human mannerisms and tics also made the drone the episode’s poignant exhale.

— Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
Unlike Tourette’s patients — whose initial tics are often very simple, such as blinking — some of these young people made complex movements.

— Nebyou Belay, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of tic

Noun

For you, this is a month that feels like reaching a finish line, though perhaps one that comes with a surprise twist or ending.

— Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026
Every 25th edition of the games, known as a Quarter Quell, adds a special twist to the annual Hunger Games rules.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of twist

Noun

Rather than reinventing the concept, Sigma seems focused on fixing the quirks that made the original a tough sell for many shooters.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026
In the new film, as in his previous work, Fielder uses actors to play out real scenarios, and leans on his own dry, bluntly awkward persona to bring out his subjects’ quirks and oddities.

— Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of quirk

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“Crotchet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crotchet. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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