QUAINT Synonyms: 194 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

quaint

adjective

ˈkwānt

Definition of quaint next

as in bizarre

different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion the sudden appearance of a man dressed in quaint clothes immediately drew the notice of passersby

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in antique

pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time a quaint general store on one of the back roads of Vermont

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 quaint The Holiday Two women from opposite sides of the Atlantic—one from Los Angeles, the other from a quaint English village—swap homes for the holidays to escape heartbreak and gain a fresh perspective on life. —

Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 22 Dec. 2025 Explosions and gunshots look weirdly quaint and inconsequential in HFR, almost like someone set off a firecracker. —

Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025 Less than 24 hours later, neighbors gathered outside of Loureiro’s three-story apartment building to pay their respects to the professor and express their concern over such a violent act taking place in their usually quaint neighborhood. —

Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 17 Dec. 2025 There's the quaint main street, the perfect little coffee shops, and the niche small businesses. —

Heather Bien, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for quaint

Recent Examples of Synonyms for quaint

Adjective

His work is marked by unusual, even bizarre, material choices that encrust spatial compositions reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s innovative open space plans.

— Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Some unnamed Chicago bartender in the early 1880s had the improbable idea of taking a Whiskey Sour and adding a little red wine to the top, inventing in a bizarre flash of insightone of the great warm weather whiskey drinks of our time.

— Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 10 Jan. 2026

Definition of bizarre

Browse Nearby Words

quails

quaint

quais

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Quaint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quaint. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

Copy Citation

Last Updated: 31 Jan 2026 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of quaint

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on quaint

More from Merriam-Webster

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

gargantuan

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Buck naked' or 'butt naked'?

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Ten Kinds of Happiness

‘Fascism’: The Word’s Meaning and History

The Words of the Week - Jan. 30

17 Words for Dog Breeds

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

Popular

'Buck naked' or 'butt naked'?

Ten Kinds of Happiness

‘Fascism’: The Word’s Meaning and History

Games & Quizzes