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curious people
fascinated people
interested people
concerned people
a curious situation
a peculiar situation
an intriguing situation
a mysterious situation
a fascinating situation
an interesting situation
a curious mixture
an unusual mixture
a strange mixture
a surprising mixture
a clever mixture
a bizarre mixture
a curious look
a peculiar look
a puzzled look
a suspicious look
an uncertain look
curious onlookers
nosy onlookers
enthralled onlookers
anxious onlookers
eager onlookers
inquisitive onlookers

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 One curious thing about the study was that all the participants lost a little bit less weight, on average, than has been measured with the same medications in other trials. Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 16 May 2025 Akinyemi encourages people to get curious about their responses. Stephanie Long, Essence, 15 May 2025 Everyone gets triggered, but elite entrepreneurs get curious Everyone gets triggered. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025 Fortunately, they are met by curious neighbors who saunter into Robyn and Dante’s love nest. Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 4 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for curious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curious
Adjective
  • Known locally for her unusually gentle and inquisitive nature, Sweet Girl was a familiar presence off the coasts of Tahiti and Moorea.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • An inquisitive crowd was lined up down the Leonard Street sidewalk, where performers dressed in rose gold dresses welcomed guests into the annual Tribeca Ball.
    Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • From the window of his 46th-floor downtown office, attorney Scott Sheftall noticed a strange, solitary cloud that worried him.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 10 May 2025
  • Although strange, anachronistic, and exaggerated, this world still seems to reflect the same daily problems that all people endure.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • In that respect, Alonso is not necessarily unusual.
    Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • Kehoe’s hands-on involvement with the proposal, which is unusual for a sitting governor, poses a big test of his political clout after spending years as a prominent Jefferson City businessman.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • Salespeople would cite the software upgrades to those interested in buying.
    Chris Kirkham, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • That begs a question: Why are the members of the conservative-leaning nonprofit American Accountability Foundation interested in what is placed in the collection of the Library of Congress?
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Sinner won a bizarre semifinal in his first tournament back from a three-month doping ban, while Alcaraz triumphed in a sloppy duel.
    Sam Settleman, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • Known for its deluge of gruesome deaths that just get more bizarre with each iteration, Final Destination is now returning for a sixth movie.
    Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Then again, this drought is uncommon for the 22-year-old center fielder.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2025
  • Flares of this magnitude are uncommon, the service added.
    Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Our strength comes from funny stories and serious ones, too.
    Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
  • Another fun tradition at the Tech Challenge that Brown enjoys is the way teams come up with funny names or wear elaborate costumes to the showcase.
    Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 7 May 2025
Adjective
  • In this instance there was a weird misunderstanding about which some of the people on the WGA Board chose to assume the worst.
    Gene Maddaus, Variety, 10 May 2025
  • This time around, Natasha Lyonne's Charlie is on the run from mob boss Beatrix Hasp (a delightfully evil Rhea Perlman) — and there's no shortage of weird cases for Charlie to use her impeccable lie-detecting superpowers on.
    EW Staff, EW.com, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Curious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curious. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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