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
  • However, there is a trick for using both of these operations together.
    Paul Smith-Goodson, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Thalberg was a wunderkind, and one of the tricks of being a wunderkind is to leverage a youthful aura—selling the Kind to increase the Wunder.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Noun
  • The study found that, once again, this trait strongly predicted breadcrumbing, and was also associated with ghosting behaviors.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Compared with the other dragons in the original, which character designer Nico Marlet imagined with comically lopsided proportions — bulgy eyes, oversize heads, ungainly fangs — Toothless was an elegant mix of feline and canine traits, mapped onto a sleek black reptilian body.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 June 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
  • Students leave with answers, but more importantly, with the habit of questioning their own choices and understanding the consequences.
    Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes.com, 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
  • But the census does reveal some quirks: the tally of objects flattens out a bit as mass descends from the stellar regime to brown dwarfs but then starts rising again at lower, more planetary-scale masses.
    Phil Plait, Scientific American, 12 June 2025
  • Winning a spot on the Lake County Regional Board of School Trustees in 2023 with more than 43,000 votes, a quirk of state law prevented him from taking his seat.
    Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crotchet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crotchet. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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