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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 Instead, the Tigers’ clock management was somewhere between curious and conflicted — and led to a gaffe that changed the trajectory of the game. Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2025 They’re joined by Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams, Ira Sachs’ experimental Peter Hujar’s Day, Johnny Depp’s curious Modigliani biopic Modi and Lost & Found In Cleveland, which is testing a new digital theatrical marketplace. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025 The event organizing website reported seeing a 92% increase in sober-curious gatherings and a nearly 500% uptick in clubbing events and daytime dance parties at coffee shops in the first half of 2025, compared to the same period of 2024. Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025 And while her personality — playful, curious, excitable — certainly comes through, these calls are dominated by interruptions. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for curious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curious
Adjective
  • Joking aside—or, maybe not—the truth is this is definitely a different kind of character for Duchovny, who’s known for playing more inquisitive men like The X-Files’ Fox Mulder.
    Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Babies also have new behaviors, from a playful and inquisitive Diplodocus to a more timid Moros Intrepidus.
    Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But then something strange happened.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • This addictive, loping track is one of the best and strangest songs from the artist’s fifth album.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • This translation by Nancy Naomi Carlson preserves the rich musicality of the original French, as well as its frequent use of wordplay and often unusual word choice.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Ostrich Leather Recognizable by its distinctive quill pattern and supple texture, ostrich leather combines durability with an unusual kind of beauty.
    Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Findings connected to Ancient Rome continue to provide compelling insights not just for scientists and academics, but for interested travelers and the public at large.
    Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Feed is a development program for younger drivers interested in Formula 4 racing.
    Eric D. Lawrence, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Even its star, Kim Kardashian, is leaning into the bizarre criticism, posting photos on Instagram of herself laughing along with the rest of the cast, interspersed with scathing reviews.
    Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
  • And calls like Payton’s bizarre third-and-1 trick play involving Courtland Sutton — a double pass that never came to be — aren’t helping.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • From lab to runway Testing in real-world conditions is uncommon for university researchers, but the UA Power Group sees it as essential for progress.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Knowles also created sound works, which frequently centered the bean, an uncommon object in the Fluxus oeuvre.
    News Desk, Artforum, 3 Nov. 2025
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
  • Anyone vaguely near the aesthetic gets christened it by fans, including Bassvictim, who were always funnier and more creative than the other modern electroclash revivalists.
    Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The performance is funny and manic and just the right amount of sad and desperate.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Curious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curious. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.

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