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curious people
fascinated people
interested people
concerned people
a curious situation
a peculiar situation
an intriguing situation
a mysterious situation
a fascinating situation
an interesting situation
a curious mixture
an unusual mixture
a strange mixture
a surprising mixture
a clever mixture
a bizarre mixture
a curious look
a peculiar look
a puzzled look
a suspicious look
an uncertain look
curious onlookers
nosy onlookers
enthralled onlookers
anxious onlookers
eager onlookers
inquisitive onlookers

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective curious contrast with its synonyms?

The words inquisitive and prying are common synonyms of curious. While all three words mean "interested in what is not one's personal or proper concern," curious, a neutral term, basically connotes an active desire to learn or to know.

children are curious about everything

When could inquisitive be used to replace curious?

The words inquisitive and curious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inquisitive suggests impertinent and habitual curiosity and persistent quizzing.

dreaded the visits of their inquisitive relatives

When is prying a more appropriate choice than curious?

The synonyms prying and curious are sometimes interchangeable, but prying implies busy meddling and officiousness.

prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business

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 curious The snout of a curious whale and the muzzle of a four-legged sentry came oh-so close. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025 Recalled sausage should be returned to the store for a full refund or thrown in the trash too deep for overly curious pets to get into it. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2025 Chargers' Jim Harbaugh gives his thoughts on controversial 'tush push' The veteran head coach currently views the Philadelphia Eagles' famed play as simply football, but is curious to see how a rule change vote goes on it. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2025 Next, encourage team members to be curious about different perspectives, dive into data and stories, consider multiple categories of the problem, and clarify the objectives. Chris Williams, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for curious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curious
Adjective
  • The list of such matters Dolan has shown a resistance to, or been inquisitive about, has grown long.
    Mike Vorkunov, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
  • The ensuing conversations are inquisitive, and don’t feature too much overt tension, but all the while, Hong plants the seeds for his signature third-act outbursts over dinner and drinks.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Republicans should also get over their strange allergy to cutting the capital gains tax.
    Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Based on the wildly popular video game, the fantasy comedy film (now in theaters) is a deeply strange fever dream that also gets a few genuine laughs.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The contract also maintains its unusual provision allowing Sanders to disclose any athletically related outside income to his superiors verbally, thus enabling him to follow NCAA bylaws while ensuring that no public paper trail is created for these earnings.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • In an unusual coincidence, Saldivar was denied parole on Thursday, the same day as Lopez's announcement.
    Angel Saunders, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • This first-of-its-kind program will accept (12) NYC students who are interested in learning about careers within the media industry.
    Vogue, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Those interested in viewing the aurora borealis should check the latest prediction and seek out dark, clear areas with a view of the northern horizon.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Continue reading … 'THIS IS SO CRAZY' – DOGE reveals bizarre findings of unemployment insurance claims.
    FOXNews.com, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Weezer has not canceled its plans to perform at Coachella this Saturday (April 12) after the wife of Weezer bassist Scott Shriner sustained non-life-threatening injuries during a bizarre run-in with Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers that ended in a dramatic shootout.
    Dave Brooks, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Addressed an issue where all horse saddles were uncommon.
    Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
  • To be fair, government tech projects are complicated, and overruns aren’t uncommon.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • On her first series, the actress played the furry and funny Honk on the Kroffts’ Far Out Space Nuts, a character who spoke only in horn-like honks.
    Tom Tapp, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Welcome to My Blue Sky is twice as great — totally brash, always loud, always effusive, and usually funny even when their lives are falling apart, which is constantly.
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s a weird, unexplained detail where the doctors sometimes wear white lab coats over their scrubs, then take them off to do procedures, and then put them back on.
    Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The whole thing, from the player’s point of view, must be deeply weird.
    Rory Smith, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Curious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curious. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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