as in whims
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action
the vagaries of a rather eccentric, elderly lady
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 vagaries
That makes the policy initiative vulnerable to the vagaries of politics or local budgeting, critics say.
—
Topher Sanders, ProPublica, 2 June 2026
Fans at the Club World Cup also suffered from the heat, thunderstorms, and the vagaries of FIFA’s dynamic ticket pricing, whereby prices rise and fall according to demand.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
As well as the vagaries of the wind, there’s a strong current flowing through the Hudson, sometimes as much as three knots.
—Andrew Rice, New York Times, 26 May 2026
The vagaries of the Civil War are also hard to intuit at times.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 May 2026
Born around 1640, Bembo and her opera remained obscure for centuries, due to the vagaries of her music manuscripts and the historical neglect of women composers.
—Claire Fontijn, The Conversation, 18 May 2026
There were plenty of ordinary and dismissive explanations for what had happened, all related to the vagaries of the brain.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
The vagaries of the schedule are something that figures to hamper MLS teams all season.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
But this is not a story about two best friends who break up because of the vagaries of popularity, and Coleman’s Callie is not a villain who breaks Minnie’s delicate heart.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
Topher Sanders, ProPublica, 2 June 2026
Fans at the Club World Cup also suffered from the heat, thunderstorms, and the vagaries of FIFA’s dynamic ticket pricing, whereby prices rise and fall according to demand.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
As well as the vagaries of the wind, there’s a strong current flowing through the Hudson, sometimes as much as three knots.
—Andrew Rice, New York Times, 26 May 2026
The vagaries of the Civil War are also hard to intuit at times.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 May 2026
Born around 1640, Bembo and her opera remained obscure for centuries, due to the vagaries of her music manuscripts and the historical neglect of women composers.
—Claire Fontijn, The Conversation, 18 May 2026
There were plenty of ordinary and dismissive explanations for what had happened, all related to the vagaries of the brain.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
The vagaries of the schedule are something that figures to hamper MLS teams all season.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
But this is not a story about two best friends who break up because of the vagaries of popularity, and Coleman’s Callie is not a villain who breaks Minnie’s delicate heart.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vagaries
whims
Noun
-
This choice was born of a desire for narrative sovereignty, ensuring that our story would never be subject to the shifting whims of political administrations.—
Diana Rodriguez,
Time,
8 June 2026
-
The show's writers subsequently did their best to accommodate the strange whims of action figure designers on the hunt for more and more playable designs.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vagaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vagaries. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
