Synonyms of whim

whim

noun

ˈ(h)wim 

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

• notion
• caprice
• thought
• vagary
• fantasy
• whimsy
• whimsey
• fancy
• impression
• vagrancy
• humor
• bee
• megrim
• freak
• kink
• maggot
• image
• crank
• capriciousness
• bee in one's bonnet
• conception
• concept
• picture
• fancifulness
• whimsicality
• phantasy
• freakishness
• impetuosity
• inspiration
• conceit
• brainstorm
• mind's eye

Synonym Chooser

How is the word whim distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of whim are caprice, crotchet, and vagary. While all these words mean "an irrational or unpredictable idea or desire," whim implies a fantastic, capricious turn of mind or inclination.

an odd antique that was bought on a whim

Where would caprice be a reasonable alternative to whim?

While in some cases nearly identical to whim, caprice stresses lack of apparent motivation and suggests willfulness.

by sheer caprice she quit her job

When can crotchet be used instead of whim?

The words crotchet and whim are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, crotchet implies an eccentric opinion or preference.

a serious scientist equally known for his bizarre crotchets

When would vagary be a good substitute for whim?

The meanings of vagary and whim largely overlap; however, vagary stresses the erratic, irresponsible character of the notion or desire.

he had been prone to strange vagaries

Examples of whim in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At some point in the last 10 years, some people suggested that maybe rich people should pay more taxes instead of giving their money away — that perhaps the whims of some random rich person are not the best way to support the most vulnerable in our society. —Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge, 24 July 2024

Chance—then thought to reflect the whim of God—could, in fact, be studied and systematized. —Kelly Clancy, Scientific American, 16 July 2024

Overall, finding policy solutions for highly capable open-source AI is a complex issue, but the threshold of risks vs. benefits should be decided through a democratic process, not based on the whims of whichever AI company is most reckless or overconfident. —Yoshua Bengio, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2024

Except, citing the whims of young people is almost always a red herring. —Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2024