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
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 whims
The menu rotates based on the event's theme, or Graci's whims, but never fails to excite, with past flavors including Jalapeño Popper, Spinach & Artichoke, Chicago Beef and more.
—
Usa Today Network,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Still, hopefully a string of successes can convince companies and investors that the whims of the president alone cannot tamp down on an entire burgeoning industry, an embarrassing thing to have to convince people of in the United States.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2026
By their very nature, pop-ups are fluid and subject to the whims of weather.
—
Sam Flemming,
AJC.com,
17 June 2026
Experiment with different colors to suit your whims.
—
Ella Field,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 June 2026
In fact, the right-wing media — which is closely tied to the whims of the White House — has been targeting Siebel Newsom for months.
—
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Democrats have publicly criticized the event, saying the president is spending money on personal whims rather than on the problems Americans are actually facing.
—
Suzanne Nuyen,
NPR,
15 June 2026
For 30 years now, Of Montreal has functioned less as a band and more as a vehicle for exploring Kevin Barnes’ emotional whims.
—
Ethan Beck,
Pitchfork,
9 June 2026
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
Usa Today Network,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Still, hopefully a string of successes can convince companies and investors that the whims of the president alone cannot tamp down on an entire burgeoning industry, an embarrassing thing to have to convince people of in the United States.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2026
By their very nature, pop-ups are fluid and subject to the whims of weather.
—
Sam Flemming,
AJC.com,
17 June 2026
Experiment with different colors to suit your whims.
—
Ella Field,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 June 2026
In fact, the right-wing media — which is closely tied to the whims of the White House — has been targeting Siebel Newsom for months.
—
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Democrats have publicly criticized the event, saying the president is spending money on personal whims rather than on the problems Americans are actually facing.
—
Suzanne Nuyen,
NPR,
15 June 2026
For 30 years now, Of Montreal has functioned less as a band and more as a vehicle for exploring Kevin Barnes’ emotional whims.
—
Ethan Beck,
Pitchfork,
9 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whims
Noun
-
Blind tasting removes preconceived notions about the brand, winemaker, or even label design, narrowing the focus to wine quality and nothing else.
-
In the doing, her film expands to accommodate notions of class, solidarity and privilege – in what is now a timeless snapshot of a rapidly evolving society.
Noun
-
One needed Mother Nature to bestow upon brewers the right temperatures for making beer, and in the days before refrigeration and even thermometers, that meant that brewing was largely dictated by the caprices of the seasons.
-
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.
Noun
-
Wealth buys choice, leverage, and a cushion for the vagaries of a market economy.
-
This is especially true for small businesses, which are particularly vulnerable to the vagaries of California’s most hostile business environment in the nation.
Noun
-
Circe and Calypso, for instance, are fantasies of pleasure and captivity, projections of men’s fear of losing control; Odysseus’ abandonment of them is part of his return to command.
-
Iraq was losing the war that would create the state of Israel, a humiliation that challenged fantasies of Arab unity and conquest.
Noun
-
In honor of Valentine’s Day, Stephanie also has a story on the whimsies created by chocolate artist Chris Ford at his West Hollywood pop-up shop.
-
In The Girlfriend, the truth is malleable, open to change based on our biases, judgments, whimsies, and desires.
Cite this Entry
“Whims.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whims. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
