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Synonym Chooser

How is the word quaint distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of quaint are eccentric, erratic, odd, outlandish, peculiar, singular, strange, and unique. While all these words mean "departing from what is ordinary, usual, or to be expected," quaint suggests an old-fashioned but pleasant oddness.

a quaint fishing village

When is it sensible to use eccentric instead of quaint?

The words eccentric and quaint are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, eccentric suggests a wide divergence from the usual or normal especially in behavior.

the eccentric eating habits of preschoolers

Where would erratic be a reasonable alternative to quaint?

While the synonyms erratic and quaint are close in meaning, erratic stresses a capricious and unpredictable wandering or deviating.

a friend's suddenly erratic behavior

When might odd be a better fit than quaint?

In some situations, the words odd and quaint are roughly equivalent. However, odd applies to a departure from the regular or expected.

an odd sense of humor

When could outlandish be used to replace quaint?

The synonyms outlandish and quaint are sometimes interchangeable, but outlandish applies to what is uncouth, bizarre, or barbaric.

outlandish fashions of the time

In what contexts can peculiar take the place of quaint?

Although the words peculiar and quaint have much in common, peculiar implies a marked distinctiveness.

the peculiar status of America's first lady

When would singular be a good substitute for quaint?

The words singular and quaint can be used in similar contexts, but singular suggests individuality or puzzling strangeness.

a singular feeling of impending disaster

When is strange a more appropriate choice than quaint?

While in some cases nearly identical to quaint, strange stresses unfamiliarity and may apply to the foreign, the unnatural, the unaccountable.

a journey filled with strange sights

When can unique be used instead of quaint?

The meanings of unique and quaint largely overlap; however, unique implies singularity and the fact of being without a known parallel.

a career unique in the annals of science

Examples 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 quaint The beanery location is just a few miles away from the original on Oyster Creek Drive and is similarly quaint, unlike the 74,000-square-foot locations often seen at newer Buc-ee's stores. Andrea Guzmán, Chron, 18 Sep. 2024 There’s something almost quaint about Norah’s search for her orgasm. Vogue, 10 Sep. 2024 The lighting is bright, the locations are quaint, and the quips all come with a pre-packaged air of warmth and wisdom. Katie Rife, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2024 From the start, though, there’s nothing quaint about the filmmaking. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for quaint 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quaint
Adjective
  • By Samantha Riedel Sarah McBride Will Officially Be the First Trans Member of U.S. Congress By Nico Lang Amid a packed schedule of eclectic, bizarre, and hilarious series on the Dropout streaming service, Very Important People has already established itself as one of the platform’s finest.
    Samantha Allen, Them, 20 Nov. 2024
  • Karin is not your typical sweet anime girl, and the narrative is bizarre, unexpected and hilarious.
    Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Go ice skating on Karlsplatz, or take a spin on the antique carousel.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2024
  • The antique look adds a touch of elegance to any room, making this gift both functional and beautiful.
    Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • One day, a student noticed something strange: One of the rats in the group trained to expect positive experiences had its tail straight up with a crook at the end, resembling the handle of an old-fashioned umbrella.
    Kelly Lambert, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
  • The result was a strange hodgepodge of a TV series — novel and interesting in hindsight, but maybe not distinct enough to inspire a spot on the DVR at the time.
    Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The playroom, located just beside the main sitting room, is presided over by a mischievous vintage Polish circus poster from Projekt 26 and outfitted with an upholstered sofa nook clad in Josef Frank’s fantastical Vegetable Tree print.
    Katherine Burns Olson, Architectural Digest, 27 Nov. 2024
  • The set contains an assortment of different vases that have a vintage look to them.
    Christopher Murray, Fox News, 25 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Killian earned a reputation for being funny and outré.
    Oscar Schwartz, The New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2024
  • Consider the case of Mickey Mouse, whose funny, sunny visage has come to the rescue at least once before.
    Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Even the simplest visuals, such as retro video games, have been shown to cause the brain to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of pleasure and reward.
    Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2024
  • With vibrant retro animation and a nostalgic tone, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man promises to captivate both longtime fans and new viewers with fresh adventures and a dose of heartwarming humor.
    Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Behind layers of clothes, underwear, CDs, records, and other odd items and products for sale, Sean Carter oversees the store from behind the counter.
    Julian Roberts-Grmela, SPIN, 20 Nov. 2024
  • Conservatorship is an odd legal place for any organization to reside for an extended period—with a third party (in this case FHFA) in operational control.
    Doug Criscitello, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • This antiquated discussion about women’s prowess behind the camera can be summed up with this: Women’s work as cinematographers is comparable to (and in other cases, better than) men’s.
    Stacy L. Smith, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2024
  • Now, the company is striving to apply these same principles of convenience, affordability and ease of access to yet another antiquated business: retail pharmacy.
    Dr. Sai Balasubramanian, M.D., J.D., Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near quaint

Cite this Entry

“Quaint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quaint. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on quaint

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