Synonyms of quaint

quaint

adjective

ˈkwānt 

1

as in bizarre

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

the sudden appearance of a man dressed in quaint clothes immediately drew the notice of passersby

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in antique

pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time

a quaint general store on one of the back roads of Vermont

Synonyms & Similar Words

• antique
• vintage
• retro
• antiquated
• historic
• historical
• traditional
• old-world
• old-fashioned
• old-time
• old-school
• old-timey
• ancient
• former
• retrograde
• past
• obsolete
• outmoded
• aged
• outdated
• olden
• oldfangled
• stodgy
• fusty
• out-of-date
• late
• dated
• bygone
• outworn
• venerable
• forgotten
• hoary
• anachronistic
• antediluvian
• timeless
• superannuated
• rinky-dink
• musty
• age-old
• old hat
• atavistic
• moldy
• passé
• erstwhile
• fossilized
• ageless
• anachronic
• remote
• anachronous
• moth-eaten
• dateless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• modern
• contemporary
• current
• new
• present-day
• modernistic
• modernist
• newfangled
• ultramodern
• hot
• fresh
• new age
• up-to-date
• state-of-the-art
• fashionable
• stylish
• chic
• red-hot
• smart
• mod
• modernized
• designer
• new-fashioned
• updated
• last
• space-age
• latest
• nontraditional
• renewed
• futuristic
• high-tech
• recent
• latter-day
• remodeled
• refurbished
• hi-tech

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

Recent Examples of quaint

The ubiquity of smartphone cameras and easy-to-use editing software made those in possession of the old skills seem almost quaint. —Steven Kurutz, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

And Ljubljana is a really quaint, charming city out of a fairy tale where everything is made of this grand stone in a fantastic architectural style. —Billie Cohen, AFAR Media, 13 Feb. 2025

Avoiding pressure from her Taiwanese immigrant parents, future doctor Waverly Liu (Andrea Bang) forgoes a prestigious fellowship to spend the months before her residency in an aggressively quaint Canadian town with her artist aunt. —Josh Bell, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2025

Judging by some of the bruising tackles on display, bragging rights still matter hugely, but tempers never threaten to boil over, which somehow feels fitting considering the rather quaint ‘Gentlemen — No Swearing Please’ sign hanging on the side of the dugouts. —Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025