crotchet

Synonym Chooser

How is the word crotchet distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of crotchet are caprice, vagary, and whim. While all these words mean "an irrational or unpredictable idea or desire," crotchet implies an eccentric opinion or preference.

a serious scientist equally known for his bizarre crotchets

When would caprice be a good substitute for crotchet?

The words caprice and crotchet are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, caprice stresses lack of apparent motivation and suggests willfulness.

by sheer caprice she quit her job

When is vagary a more appropriate choice than crotchet?

In some situations, the words vagary and crotchet are roughly equivalent. However, vagary stresses the erratic, irresponsible character of the notion or desire.

he had been prone to strange vagaries

Where would whim be a reasonable alternative to crotchet?

While the synonyms whim and crotchet are close in meaning, whim implies a fantastic, capricious turn of mind or inclination.

an odd antique that was bought on a whim

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 crotchet Think outside the box All book collectors develop distinctive crotchets. Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024 The origins of brackets — once referred to as crotchets, crooks, or hooks — are a mystery. Sarah Fay, Longreads, 17 Mar. 2020 Among his other crotchets was an aversion to bare canvas. Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 7 May 2018 Maxine attended to his every whim and crotchet, never lost faith in his brilliance or potential, and delighted in surrounding him with exactly the sort of frivolous company his wife abhorred. Sadie Stein, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crotchet
Noun
  • But note the fun trick of resizing or even rotating the cloned objects: People Beautifier PhotoDirector's People Beautifier tool has four subsets: Face Tools, Face Deblur, Body Shaper, and Skin Smoother.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
  • For example, have the dog chase a ball or do a trick and reward the behaviors.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • On the other hand, Harris has a significant edge on many character and personal traits, and her personal popularity ratings are a little better than Trump’s.
    Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Employees who are accustomed to managing multiple responsibilities may demonstrate greater adaptability and resilience, which are valuable traits in a rapidly changing business environment. Competitive Edge in Hiring.
    William Arruda, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • This solid foundation enables the Bilstein DTX shock absorbers to do their work, with fast reaction times that let the various drive mode settings deliver distinctly different ride and handling characteristics.
    Dan Carney, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024
  • These are split into four groups of four based on common characteristics and placed into categories.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Stewart did admit that Reynolds knows how to adopt funny mannerisms in his work, though.
    Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 2 Nov. 2024
  • In the years since, the site has taken on the mannerisms of establishment food media, in which editorial content is pushed to the fore.
    Ruby Tandoh, The New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2024
Noun
  • This worry is reinforced through media that point to people’s unhealthy habits with social media and phones.
    Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Clearly, smoking is a habit that’s hard to kick in some respects, for Britain‘s new government, and for the fashion crowd.
    Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Naturally, the always Mary Katherine also had to share her signature tic with the VP: Shoving her hands under her armpits and then sniffing her fingers.
    Christian Holub, EW.com, 18 Oct. 2024
  • In a sketch mocking Céline Dion’s recent, inexplicable promo for Sunday Night Football, the chameleonic chanteuse absolutely nails Dion’s French Canadian accent, inflections, vocal tics, and confidence.
    Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • A bit of warm spice tempered with a twist of freshness and medium tannins make this a great choice for roasted turkey with all of the fixings.
    Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
  • May’s role is being kept under wraps, as is the plot of the film, which is described as a corporate thriller with a samurai twist.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Every space has its set of quirks; small, unique idiosyncrasies that make a house feel like a home.
    Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024
  • Ironically, both the Rams and Buffs somehow managed to miss the two best teams in their respective leagues thanks to a quirk of the scheduling gods.
    Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near crotchet

Cite this Entry

“Crotchet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crotchet. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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