Definition of curiousnext
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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective curious contrast with its synonyms?

The words inquisitive and prying are common synonyms of curious. While all three words mean "interested in what is not one's personal or proper concern," curious, a neutral term, basically connotes an active desire to learn or to know.

children are curious about everything

When could inquisitive be used to replace curious?

The words inquisitive and curious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inquisitive suggests impertinent and habitual curiosity and persistent quizzing.

dreaded the visits of their inquisitive relatives

When is prying a more appropriate choice than curious?

The synonyms prying and curious are sometimes interchangeable, but prying implies busy meddling and officiousness.

prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business

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 curious Welcome to Bon Appétit Bake Club, a community of curious bakers. Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Mar. 2026 But for Farelo, a restless artist who describes herself as endlessly curious, that was just the beginning. Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2026 Try to remain curious and not accusatory. Sherri Gordon, Parents, 7 Mar. 2026 And the kids are curious, studious, vivacious. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for curious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curious
Adjective
  • Thrud is precocious, inquisitive, curious, and fearless, with a natural yearning for knowledge.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2026
  • Legend has it that when Buddha was painting the sky, blue pigment dripped onto the floor and his inquisitive chow chow licked the puddle, coloring the dog’s tongue permanently.
    Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • It’s been a strange season in City Section soccer, with six schools removed from the playoffs for using ineligible players, most of whom played for club teams while also playing tor their high school team, in violation of CIF bylaw 600.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
  • For now, Moltbook remains a strange but revealing glimpse into how AI agents might interact in the future.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Ice cream, water fights, kind people who aren’t weird and don’t smell unusual.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Friday, an unusual time for such events on the island.
    Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • But many ship owners, Mills said, wouldn’t be interested in putting ships at risk, insurance or not.
    Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Tao’s advance would eventually catch the eye of Rosenfeld, who was interested in proofs that use a computer to check many examples.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The eccentric cast of characters around him match his energy nicely, particularly McGinley's genuinely bizarre Walter, whose manic energy is a frequent source of humor.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Sometimes football throws up these bizarre twists of fate.
    Chris McKenna, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Kiwis moving abroad is not uncommon, and more Kiwis generally are choosing to leave than before; in the year ending November 2025, almost 122,000 people emigrated, a 4% jump from the previous year and higher than a previous spike in 2012.
    Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Shows that can last eight hours or more, with maybe a dozen bands playing aren’t uncommon.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying -- and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
    Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 4 Feb. 2023
  • But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying — and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
    Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • For most of the evening, the mood is darkly funny and a little ominous, as the siblings take undermining jabs and the in-laws roll their eyes.
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Would that kind of thing have seemed funny at the time, or maybe a clever way to avoid a topic either too personal or too fraught for out-group consumption?
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Curious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curious. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

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