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 There were many others curious like them. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026 Was Rajakovic, whose team had faced the Celtics three times during Tatum’s Achilles rehab and lost all three games, curious to see how Boston looked with its central superstar now healthy and available? Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026 And this is what makes the Board of Supervisors’ decision so curious. Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026 Since then, it’s taken off at Monolith with curious rookies and serious competitors. Brittany Anas, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for curious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curious
Adjective
  • Soon a tunnel between the ships, then a meeting, with a friendly, inquisitive alien who looks like a sort of craggy spider/crab, whom Grace dubs Rocky.
    Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
  • The inquisitive student was not a student at all, but a woman from Philadelphia named Bonnie Raines.
    Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Stars wield power in professional sports, and that power can lead to some strange requests of their employers.
    Joe Vardon, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Pocahontas will arrive with her very own Yehakin and help unravel the mystery behind a strange phenomenon affecting the Moon and the tides around the Valley.
    Arushi Jacob, Variety, 7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Wen says that such unusual shapes could be useful in making a lab-on-a-chip for cell biology or drug development.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 9 Apr. 2026
  • At 516 feet in width, the unusual structure is roughly 22,000 times smaller than the actual Moon, which with a diameter of 2,159 miles could roughly fit the contiguous United States across one of its halves from east to west.
    Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • His answers to questions about the contest vary from declining to comment to pointing out that voters don’t appear interested in the race, either.
    Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Info and brainstorming sessions Anyone interested in making a film for the competition is invited to a series of brainstorming sessions next week to learn more about the project, connect with filmmaking resources, share film ideas, find mentors and explore collaborations.
    Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The troubled production resulted in a bizarre cyberpunk schlock-flick that felt far removed from what most fans understood Mario to be.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Since the border is not straight but snakes along old county lines, some of the journey was bizarre.
    Colm Tóibín, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • These monikers range from classics like Robin and Lucy to more uncommon names like Oran and Valo.
    Erica Jackson Curran, Parents, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The company added that reports of rashes with bleeding have been described anecdotally by clinical trial investigators and are considered uncommon.
    Angelica Peebles, CNBC, 10 Apr. 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
  • Levy arcs his character’s growing exasperation in a way that’s funny, if somewhat limited.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Deborah and Ava get to develop while their process, for the most part, remains the same — and remains funny.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Curious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curious. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.

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