as in whims
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action
the vagaries of a rather eccentric, elderly lady
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Recent Examples of vagaries
All four have the vagaries of fitness and form and the pressures of expectation to manage, but the more interesting thing about their presence in this tournament is how the balance of power could shift by its end.
—
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 23 May 2026
The vagaries of the Civil War are also hard to intuit at times.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 May 2026
Born around 1640, Bembo and her opera remained obscure for centuries, due to the vagaries of her music manuscripts and the historical neglect of women composers.
—Claire Fontijn, The Conversation, 18 May 2026
There were plenty of ordinary and dismissive explanations for what had happened, all related to the vagaries of the brain.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
The vagaries of the schedule are something that figures to hamper MLS teams all season.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
But this is not a story about two best friends who break up because of the vagaries of popularity, and Coleman’s Callie is not a villain who breaks Minnie’s delicate heart.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
The person sitting next to me that day was my flat-mate, Alicia Stallings, who, by one the vagaries of history, is now the current professor of poetry at Oxford.
—Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Anyone who has watched Survivor knows vagaries are the enemy of success, and ultimately the ringleader of Glam, Ciara, still goes down this week.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 23 May 2026
The vagaries of the Civil War are also hard to intuit at times.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 May 2026
Born around 1640, Bembo and her opera remained obscure for centuries, due to the vagaries of her music manuscripts and the historical neglect of women composers.
—Claire Fontijn, The Conversation, 18 May 2026
There were plenty of ordinary and dismissive explanations for what had happened, all related to the vagaries of the brain.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
The vagaries of the schedule are something that figures to hamper MLS teams all season.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
But this is not a story about two best friends who break up because of the vagaries of popularity, and Coleman’s Callie is not a villain who breaks Minnie’s delicate heart.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
The person sitting next to me that day was my flat-mate, Alicia Stallings, who, by one the vagaries of history, is now the current professor of poetry at Oxford.
—Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Anyone who has watched Survivor knows vagaries are the enemy of success, and ultimately the ringleader of Glam, Ciara, still goes down this week.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vagaries
whims
Noun
-
The other flavors will be up to his weekly whims.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
-
The league has conformed to The King’s whims.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vagaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vagaries. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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