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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of curious
This will keep curious hands from getting a hold of it.
—
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
Helm is the curious, mercurial, impish, affectionate and dangerous air current of the English Pennines, swooping over the Eden District from prehistory until now.
—The Know, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
But this Central American country – a narrow isthmus stretching for 500 miles between Costa Rica (to the west) and Colombia (to the east) – offers far more to interest the curious traveller, said David Amsden in Condé Nast Traveller.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 29 Mar. 2026
That’s because something curious happened at Premiere Napa Valley’s 2026 barrel auction in February.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for curious
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
Helm is the curious, mercurial, impish, affectionate and dangerous air current of the English Pennines, swooping over the Eden District from prehistory until now.
—The Know, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
But this Central American country – a narrow isthmus stretching for 500 miles between Costa Rica (to the west) and Colombia (to the east) – offers far more to interest the curious traveller, said David Amsden in Condé Nast Traveller.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 29 Mar. 2026
That’s because something curious happened at Premiere Napa Valley’s 2026 barrel auction in February.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 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
-
The strange circumstances of his last weeks have the quality of a nightmare from which the Samsas awake.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
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But his arrest and conviction in 2024 had been preceded a year earlier by a strange story that appeared in the press and then disappeared almost as quickly.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The rapid melting is also increasing avalanche activity in unusual places.—
Callie Zanandrie,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
But Chris Piper, manager of public policy and stakeholder engagement at the Partnership for Public Service, said the length of time that has passed since Means' rescheduled confirmation hearing also is unusual.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The only troubled brow that Orsolya seems interested in soothing is her own.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Additionally, pairs of skis with bright graphic art line the bar walls as decor, providing something of a showroom for folks interested in learning about the products — or maybe even purchasing their own pair after a few drinks.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The goggles, the GPS address and the laptop — all of it was strong evidence supporting the bizarre story Denise and Aaron had been telling all along.—
Lauren Clark,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
His YouTube page, once an online venue for his songs, was more recently dedicated to paranoid rants about his family members, some centering on his relationship with his grandfather, and others where Valdez displayed bizarre behavior like imitating Nazi soldiers.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Such mistakes should be uncommon for this group.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Little was charged with Cizek's murder, despite authorities not being able to locate his body, which is an uncommon step in a homicide case.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 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
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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
-
Why the Vaping Squirrels Trend Is Dangerous The viral clips might look funny, but the reality is far less cute.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Mar. 2026
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The explanation is kind of funny, but also very much a seasonal sign of renewal on the barrier islands.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Curious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curious. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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