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 These curious but cautious forest mammals showed up every night at Secret Spring and often seemed to pose for pictures as the remote camera continued taking images as long these furry visitors hung around. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026 May 21 – June 20 One curious question could put you in the right room. Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 June 2026 The messages should feel personal, warm and curious, not transactional. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026 In this uniquely enchanting debut from Tessa Yang, a marine biologist gets a call from her college crush asking for her help solving a curious mystery on the island of Shattering Point, Maine, and fixing what the locals have dubbed the Jellyfish Problem. Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for curious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curious
Adjective
  • At 6 years old, little Ronny Howard got cast in The Andy Griffith Show as Opie, Sheriff Taylor’s inquisitive son.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 June 2026
  • Filmed in Haiti‘s northern Cap-Haïtien region, the movie follows Ruben, a young man (Stevenson Jean) who embarks on a journey to reconnect with his estranged father, accompanied by an inquisitive street kid (Blangue Machiny).
    Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 4 June 2026
Adjective
  • The issue at hand – renewing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA – has created strange political bedfellows this year on Capitol Hill, miring lawmakers in a debate pitting privacy against safety while consuming much of Congress' election-year time.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 10 June 2026
  • Brunson answered with one of the strangest makes of his postseason.
    C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 9 June 2026
Adjective
  • The lobby is filled with well-to-do patrons, and seeing children in tow is not unusual.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 June 2026
  • In the case of the female individual, the authors noted an unusual break at the base of the cranium that likely occurred near the time of death.
    Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 11 June 2026
Adjective
  • The anticipation is so great that a live cam has been placed near the structure that gives a view of the facade so interested parties can watch when the event actually happens.
    Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
  • Students interested in the class must take certain construction classes before enrolling.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2026
Adjective
  • Weird neighbors and increasingly bizarre diversions plague every attempt Nameless Hero makes to get down the stairs of his building to the man who’s standing outside.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 June 2026
  • And in a bizarre twist, a criminal investigation has been opened after three dogs were found dead at the travel trailer where mauling victim Jodi Cowan was living at the time of the fatal attack.
    Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
Adjective
  • According to the National Cancer Institute, SEF is so uncommon that there is limited data available about treatment for the disease as well as how many people have it.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
  • Turns out, being conflated with the characters one plays is not uncommon, at least for the TV stars gathered at THR‘s Drama Actors Emmy Roundtable.
    Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 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
  • To work with Ed Asner, at that point, how funny would that have been?
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 12 June 2026
  • There are frequent funny asides and philosophical musings.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Curious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curious. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

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