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
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
As a result, those close to him have felt that there have been some vagaries around his role within the team since his arrival.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 28 Feb. 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
That’s your choice to prioritize more dependable success over bragging rights for coaxing a half dead super-choice plant through the vagaries of a yo-yo bit of winter.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Jan. 2026
Clark pulls these plot tendrils into a cohesive story that delves deep into police investigations and the vagaries of Chicago.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026
Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
As a result, those close to him have felt that there have been some vagaries around his role within the team since his arrival.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 28 Feb. 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
That’s your choice to prioritize more dependable success over bragging rights for coaxing a half dead super-choice plant through the vagaries of a yo-yo bit of winter.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Jan. 2026
Clark pulls these plot tendrils into a cohesive story that delves deep into police investigations and the vagaries of Chicago.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vagaries
whims
Noun
-
In the fifth and final season of The Boys, the world is completely subject to Homelander’s erratic, egomaniacal whims.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
4 Apr. 2026
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And few issues provide more difficulties in implementing his changing whims than a war in the Middle East.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vagaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vagaries. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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