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

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 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
  • The secret trick of reconciliation is that Congress gets a chance to add tweaks to the budget — to reconcile it — twice every federal fiscal year.
    Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 30 May 2025
  • Turn Strong Articles Into How-To Or Best-Practice Guides One of my favorite tricks is transforming strong articles into resources that stay relevant long-term, like how-to guides or best practices.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • Rethinking the meaning of de-extinction Bringing back a species like the dire wolf isn’t just a matter of getting the fur right or tweaking a few visible traits.
    Elay Shech, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
  • Really, all Morgan Plus 8s are much the same, and promise a perfectly delightful driving experience, offering the most traditional British roadster traits in a car that can easily keep up in modern traffic.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • Besides searching for the likes of methane and ammonia, the characteristics of the planet's atmosphere discernible to JWST could point to which formation model – core accretion or disk instability – is the correct one, or even whether a brand new formation model is needed.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 June 2025
  • Key characteristics of individuals with big egos in the workplace include: Domineering behavior.
    AllBusiness, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • While the veteran running back’s voice barely elevated above a public library level and his mannerisms remained reserved, the sincerity of his enthusiasm still landed.
    Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
  • The result is an exciting mosaic not just of views and opinions, but also of mannerisms and personalities.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • He is used to mowing his lawn shirtless and in shorts – especially on hotter days – but recently, what seemed like a harmless habit sparked unexpected drama with his neighbors across the street.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 7 June 2025
  • Over the years, several analysts of Palestinian politics have attempted to game out what would happen should Abbas die in office — a not-unlikely scenario given his age and extensive smoking habit.
    Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • Seeking the company of other emotional exiles — celebrities who populate his international acting company (Tom Hanks, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Hope Davis, etc.) — has become Anderson’s authorial tic.
    Armond White, National Review, 30 May 2025
  • This facial tic recalls an iconic scene from Jordan Peele’s Get Out.
    Erin Qualey, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • This is only the latest twist in a legal saga that started last October when 23XI and Front Row filed a lawsuit against NASCAR, arguing that they were unfairly shut out of charter ownership despite purchasing charters from Stewart-Haas Racing.
    Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
  • What did the major twist at the end of the movie mean?
    Caroline Blair, People.com, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • Every application has its own quirks—some are easy to migrate, others require extra integrations and some legacy systems may not be compatible at all.
    Akram Atallah, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Across the border in Texas, and in other parts of the Southwest, flour tortillas bear a range of regional quirks.
    Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 26 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crotchet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crotchet. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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