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Synonym Chooser

How is the word quaint distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of quaint are eccentric, erratic, odd, outlandish, peculiar, singular, strange, and unique. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

When is it sensible to use eccentric instead of quaint?

The words eccentric and quaint are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

Where would erratic be a reasonable alternative to quaint?

While the synonyms erratic and quaint are close in meaning, erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

When might odd be a better fit than quaint?

In some situations, the words odd and quaint are roughly equivalent. However, odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

When could outlandish be used to replace quaint?

The synonyms outlandish and quaint are sometimes interchangeable, but outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

In what contexts can peculiar take the place of quaint?

Although the words peculiar and quaint have much in common, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

When would singular be a good substitute for quaint?

The words singular and quaint can be used in similar contexts, but singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

When is strange a more appropriate choice than quaint?

While in some cases nearly identical to quaint, strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

When can unique be used instead of quaint?

The meanings of unique and quaint largely overlap; however, unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel.

a career unique in the annals of science

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 quaint Begin in quaint Passau, the ‘City of Three Rivers’ where the holiday fair is hosted in the middle of the old town with a 17th-century cathedral as its backdrop. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2024 The quaint Danish village of Solvang is next door, and the local sky is occasionally lit up with rocket launches; Lompoc and Vandenberg Space Force Base are a few miles to the west. Michael Goldstein, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 The vibe: Origami Ramen is quaint — there are about 10 tables and one roaming waiter, though guests are encouraged to order via the tablet at their table. Jessica Boehm, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024 There are parallels between the 1960 election and today Question: The book reads like a thriller, but some of the various things going on in 1960 seem almost quaint today. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 8 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for quaint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quaint
Adjective
  • The esoteric will never sit completely comfortably in the mainstream, because that’s the point of it: to be unusual, bizarre, absurd.
    Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 18 Mar. 2025
  • So many of the characters on this show speak with such bizarre, precise dialogue that can only make sense in the Severance world.
    Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • At Chloé, the faux fur tassels and antique gold talisman charms successfully transitioned the brand’s bohemian energy from spring to fall.
    Sandra Salibian, WWD, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Loveless is drawn to antique mirrors for a variety of reasons.
    Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Sure, the plot’s kind of a mess, but warrior Alice is an empowering turn while Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter and Helena Bonham Carter’s big-headed Red Queen are splendidly strange.
    Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
  • This brings to conclusion one of the stranger and more dramatic human spaceflight stories in years.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Photo : Jo David for Sotheby’s International Realty A vintage guest bath.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2025
  • There’s actually a vintage store collective called Slow Fashion Hub, which provides a map for tourists to easily spot all of the vintage stores in their collective.
    Brittany Leitner, StyleCaster, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • What happened was that all of this comedy spoken in Kansai-ben was understood nationwide as being funny.
    Ollie Barder, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Everyone thought this was very funny, including, to her credit, Kate.
    Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Quilted jackets for a touch of classic, cottage-core charm and, on the opposite end of the spectrum, retro track jackets with so-sporty vibes.
    Victoria Montalti, refinery29.com, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Flattered Launches Spring/Summer 2025 Collection Flattered’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection embraces retro aesthetics, drawing inspiration from ’60s minimalism.
    Mecca Pryor, Essence, 14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • While early iterations of generative AI often yielded odd or impractical results, today’s models rival professionals thanks to decades of breakthroughs.
    Haokun Qin, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • The Mountain West got four teams in the bracket, but Boise State was the odd one out despite wins over Clemson and Saint Mary’s.
    Tess DeMeyer, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Cuba remained largely without power on Saturday morning, after the island nation's grid collapsed the night before, knocking out electricity for 10 million people and raising fresh questions about the viability of its antiquated generating system.
    Fox News, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Looking at the math of our antiquated plurality voting system, the Democrats’ actions may seem rational.
    Rob Richie, Twin Cities, 12 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Quaint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quaint. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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