as in notions
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action
on a whim, we stopped at the roadside stand to get ice cream
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Recent Examples of whims
Rather than spending millions in a relentless quest to solve the problems wrought by Coors Field, the Rockies appear to have capitulated to its whims.
—
Andy McCullough, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
One Battle also exemplifies where Hall’s career has taken her, which is to say across genres, moods, and Hollywood whims.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
Instead of standing as a safeguard, Congress has abdicated its responsibility and has been a rubber stamp for the president’s unconstitutional whims.
—Trena Turner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
The ask initiates a high-stakes battle at the Supreme Court over the independence of the Fed, which has traditionally been viewed as an institution kept arm’s-length from the White House’s political whims.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 18 Sep. 2025
At best, the rulers who met in Doha on Monday act as supplicants, relying on the whims of a unpredictable US president to intercede with Israel’s leader.
—Ben Wedeman, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
Their whims work for or against us with no logic involved.
—Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
These were not just silly geographical whims, Jessica Winter pointed out at the time.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025
The Fed’s independence has been central to the United States’ role as the globe’s preeminent economic power; investors worldwide believe the central bank won’t act on a president’s whims.
—Jackie Calmes, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025
Andy McCullough, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
One Battle also exemplifies where Hall’s career has taken her, which is to say across genres, moods, and Hollywood whims.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
Instead of standing as a safeguard, Congress has abdicated its responsibility and has been a rubber stamp for the president’s unconstitutional whims.
—Trena Turner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
The ask initiates a high-stakes battle at the Supreme Court over the independence of the Fed, which has traditionally been viewed as an institution kept arm’s-length from the White House’s political whims.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 18 Sep. 2025
At best, the rulers who met in Doha on Monday act as supplicants, relying on the whims of a unpredictable US president to intercede with Israel’s leader.
—Ben Wedeman, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
Their whims work for or against us with no logic involved.
—Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
These were not just silly geographical whims, Jessica Winter pointed out at the time.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025
The Fed’s independence has been central to the United States’ role as the globe’s preeminent economic power; investors worldwide believe the central bank won’t act on a president’s whims.
—Jackie Calmes, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whims
Noun
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In addition, data showed those who switched to self-employment had previously earned more than peers who were paid employees, contrasting with notions that they were pushed into starting their own business.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
27 Sep. 2025
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Where other projects have found success discussing the same notions bleakly, Etzler trusts his sardonic approach will tempt audiences to let their guards down and allow the subject matter to resonate, perhaps looking inward at their own complicity in the process.—
Holly Jones,
Variety,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Owning and running the restaurant also meant caring for the vast, aging Foster’s collection while managing the vagaries of heat, cold, humidity and stovetop.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
26 Sep. 2025
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But beyond the vagaries of this clearly religious belief in eternal reward, literature itself offers succor not just for the captive, but its creator.—
Ed Simon
September 22,
Literary Hub,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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One of them was Segar, his former coworker, who was in the middle of his workday and didn’t have the bandwidth to engage with Jon’s fantasies about a cataclysmic event.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
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Likewise, be careful about major purchases, because an element of confusion, along with possible deceit (including fantasies of grandeur), might cloud your thinking.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whims.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whims. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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