as in notion
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action
on a whim, we stopped at the roadside stand to get ice cream
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 whim
Beyond immigration, Miller specializes in turning the president’s whims and rantings into government policy.
—
Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Leven is still at the whims of the macroeconomic climate plaguing restaurants in recent years.
—Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
As for whether whims like that need to be indulged, Mayer, perhaps not surprisingly, is on the side of the talent.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026
The Fed has traditionally operated separately from the rest of Washington, making its decisions on interest rates without having to bend to political whims.
—Stan Choe, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whim
Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Leven is still at the whims of the macroeconomic climate plaguing restaurants in recent years.
—Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
As for whether whims like that need to be indulged, Mayer, perhaps not surprisingly, is on the side of the talent.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026
The Fed has traditionally operated separately from the rest of Washington, making its decisions on interest rates without having to bend to political whims.
—Stan Choe, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whim
Noun
-
The outlet also said that Rezaei maintained that Iran would abandon any notion of a ceasefire if attacked.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
16 Jan. 2026
-
So just for the sake of this exercise, let’s go along with the notion of Terry Rozier’s cap hold and Simone Fontecchio’s expiring.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Today, every country’s economy is tied to others, but a small nation that’s as historically dependent on trade as Denmark seems particularly vulnerable to Trump’s caprices.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Over that time his work neatly evaded the whims and caprices of fashion, achieving a kind of timelessness and clarity of purpose.—
Anna Wintour,
Vogue,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Age has brought thoughts of conservatism scurrying into the back of his mind.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
16 Jan. 2026
-
And shared these thoughts with my friend Golan Haji, the Syrian Kurdish writer in Arabic who lives in France, and whose mother had recently died in Qamishli.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Clark pulls these plot tendrils into a cohesive story that delves deep into police investigations and the vagaries of Chicago.—
Oline H. Cogdill,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2026
-
And all these considerations are preceded by the unpredictable, impossible-to-model vagaries of smoke itself.—
Nicola Twilley,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
So for a little more whimsy and joy this year, why not pick up the crochet hooks or paintbrush, or join a book club?—
Anna Grace Lee,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Keep your eyes open for dashes of whimsy, in keeping with the hotel’s brand.—
Kathryn Streeter,
Condé Nast Traveler,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
More elite than university even, the boarding school occupies a fantasy space in the writer’s imagination, making novels about them a tantalizing glimpse into another world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
-
In his director’s statement, Edwin describes the film as an attempt to merge horror with dark comedy and surreal fantasy while confronting labor exploitation and dehumanizing working conditions.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
If beachcombing or tide pooling strikes your fancy, there’s a set of Helly Hansen raincoats, waterproof pants, and umbrellas in the closet.—
Jennie Nunn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Not finding anything that suits your fancy?—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Montha connected on a trio of shots from behind the arc in the second quarter, as the junior point guard did his best Steph Curry impression to help the Tillers to a 33-26 halftime advantage over the Eagles (12-7, 1-1).—
David Delgado,
Oc Register,
7 Jan. 2026
-
There’s also the fact that the impression fans or analysts form about a team is often weighted toward the offensive end of the football, and Denver’s sporadic nature on that side of the ball this season has contributed to the lukewarm view some have of the team.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whim. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
