Synonyms of curious

curious

adjective

ˈkyu̇r-ē-əs 

1

as in inquisitive

interested in what is not one's own business

curious neighbors peered out of their windows as the new people moved in

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inquisitive
• interested
• prying
• nosy
• questioning
• concerned
• officious
• intrusive
• quizzical
• snoopy
• obtrusive
• meddlesome
• meddling
• interrogative
• inquisitorial
• interfering
• inquisitional

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifferent
• incurious
• disinterested
• uncurious
• uninterested
• unconcerned
• apathetic

2

as in strange

different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion

that's a pretty curious coincidence—almost too curious to be believed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strange
• bizarre
• funny
• weird
• odd
• peculiar
• remarkable
• erratic
• eccentric
• unusual
• crazy
• unique
• quirky
• abnormal
• wild
• kinky
• wacky
• screwy
• queer
• funky
• kooky
• offbeat
• off-the-wall
• quaint
• uncommon
• out-of-the-way
• outlandish
• unconventional
• rare
• cranky
• outré
• weirdo
• extraordinary
• outrageous
• rum
• far-out
• way-out
• queerish
• shocking
• fantastic
• off-kilter
• freaky
• noticeable
• outstanding
• freak
• bizarro
• striking
• prominent
• freakish
• notable
• conspicuous
• puzzling
• flaky
• spaced-out
• atypical
• perplexing
• phenomenal
• aberrant
• baffling
• singular
• salient
• idiosyncratic
• unwonted
• out-there
• phantasmagoric
• bewildering
• mystifying
• confounding
• unorthodox
• nonconformist
• atrocious
• crotchety
• addlepated
• uncustomary
• nonmainstream

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• normal
• typical
• usual
• ordinary
• average
• standard
• everyday
• commonplace
• routine
• prosaic
• garden
• familiar
• conservative
• conventional
• unremarkable
• predictable
• unexceptional
• expected
• common
• run-of-the-mill
• workaday
• frequent
• regular
• conformist
• customary
• habitual
• knee-jerk
• wonted

3

as in unusual

noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced

that is one of the most curious paintings I've ever seen

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unusual
• uncommon
• funny
• strange
• weird
• rare
• odd
• peculiar
• extraordinary
• unique
• bizarre
• unaccustomed
• out-of-the-way
• queer
• special
• offbeat
• singular
• eccentric
• remarkable
• abnormal
• uncustomary
• noticeable
• oddball
• noteworthy
• exceptional
• outlandish
• outré
• atypical
• notable
• kooky
• particular
• far-out
• way-out
• aberrant
• irregular
• newsworthy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• common
• usual
• ordinary
• plain
• familiar
• normal
• typical
• regular
• unexceptional
• predictable
• expected

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

Recent Examples of curious

The camera can nod, shake, and appear curious, giving off major Wall-E vibes. — Florence Ion, PC Magazine, 12 Aug. 2026

The narrator, though curious to speak herself, is finally repelled. — Maya Binyam, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026

Horn’s rookie season was one of the most curious seasons in the locker room last year. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 12 Aug. 2026

For future research, scientists such as Marcus, Cornelis and Kamangar are curious about which of coffee’s thousands of compounds cause different health outcomes and what happens when non-coffee drinkers introduce the beverage into their diet. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 11 Aug. 2026

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