Definition of quaintnext
1
2

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 But back in 2010, the block was relatively quaint, and the lot held a two-story, 2,599-square-foot rectory for priests. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 15 Sep. 2026 But fantasy sports, an almost quaint precursor to the instantaneous forms of gambling proliferating now, remains hugely prevalent. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026 Due to the business’s small, quaint space, reservations are mandatory. — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026 And Marni's prints, with the quaint charm of twenties wallpaper designs—or, this season, fifties-homemaker china patterns—have become instant collectibles. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for quaint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quaint
Adjective
  • The cookie shops have a rotating menu of cookies with elaborate toppings, sometimes offering bizarre flavors such as everything bagel.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Skerritt co-starred opposite Kathy Baker, playing his doctor wife in the community of Rome, Wisconsin, a place with bizarre happenings, like having a robber leaving a trail of frogs or the pope becoming the primary witness to a murder.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Antique and Vintage Furniture At one point, antique wooden furniture dominated homes.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The space is adorned with black Zimbabwean granite, a burning fireplace, and antique silk carpets from Uzbekistan.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Alexi’s script gets to the heart of the strange, necessary bonds between humans and animals.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Something in the movement of his hands, too fast, too smooth, too precise, and something in the play of the light and shadow across his knuckles, reveals that something strange is at work.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Rounding out the composition is a selection of vintage rattan pieces and sculptural creations by Pretziada, a creative design practice based in Sardinia, and its artisans.
    — Francesca Longoni, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2026
  • That sense of hospitality is even more pronounced on the second floor, with its vintage furniture and darkly luxurious decor of green stone, darkened zebrano, walnut and waxed bronzite, and velvet curtains.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Divorced from the context of a map, Texas' congressional districts might just look like a collection of funny shapes.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • China did not find anything funny about the French star laughing at a meme of Mao, the communist dictator whose regime resulted in tens of millions of deaths.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The Mister Mort x Tip Top Shoes x Mephisto Match takes inspiration from retro hiking boots, decking out the low-top walking sneaker in materials often found on mountaineering shoes.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The Atlanta Falcons received backlash — and some jokes — after revealing a retro team symbol that some say resembles Nazi imagery.
    — Josephine Murphy, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Anyway, aside from the odd finish, what the Bowl audience got in the broader sense was far from an anticlimax in the overall scheme of things.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 30 Oct. 2026
  • His other weapon was his voice, at once coldly precise and dangerously soft; never before had Malkovich’s distinctly odd cadences sounded so menacing.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • According to firefighters, the department’s flood response was also limited by an antiquated dispatch system.
    — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Plaintiffs challenging the prohibition on home distilling claim the 1868 law is an antiquated relic of Reconstruction-era politics.
    — Michael Kunzelman, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Quaint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quaint. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster