curiosity

noun

ˌkyu̇r-ē-ˈä-s(ə-)tē How to pronounce curiosity (audio)
Definition of curiositynext
1
as in concern
an eager desire to find out about things that are often none of one's business our neighbor's curiosity about what we were doing last night was really offensive

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rarity
something strange or unusual that is an object of interest the museum's curiosities include items constructed entirely out of toothpicks

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3
as in ornamental
a small object displayed for its attractiveness or interest an assortment of curiosities from around the world that the family picked up during various vacations

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4
as in trick
an odd or peculiar habit Charles Dickens typically endowed his characters with an array of endearing curiosities

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 curiosity Yi offers her readers a dazzling cabinet of curiosities, exploring spirituality, desire and the desperate ways people grasp at each other. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Posts about the new business sparked a curiosity among viewers who’d not yet heard about the opening and the influencers had exclusive insight. — Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 30 Aug. 2026 That kind of collective learning is especially important in the era of AI as distinctly human skills like attention span, curiosity, judgment, empathy and collaboration become more valuable, Kavanagh and Danielson argued. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026 Every corner of the hotel holds something to evoke curiosity and stir inspiration. — Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for curiosity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curiosity
  1. concern
  2. rarity
  3. ornamental
  4. trick
  5. questioning
  6. wonder
  7. novelty
  8. trait
Noun
  • While more than 100 law enforcement agencies across the country have ended their contracts with Flock Safety in recent weeks over privacy concerns, the company and the state of Georgia are deeply tied to one another.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • And as a result, the data centers built to enable this growth have drawn scrutiny from communities and across party lines, including concerns over higher electric bills.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of concern
Noun
  • The rarity of the condition means diagnosis can be delayed, increasing the chances of severe symptoms.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Its native structure, the twenty-two-episode season, has become a rarity in the industry, as has its default lightness.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of rarity
Noun
  • Often stitched on velvet, the beads are used as an ornamental, archival and educational tool.
    — Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Select a fungicide labeled for leaf spots on ornamentals and follow the label.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of ornamental
Noun
  • Treister had a smart sense of humor, often performing magic tricks for anyone who would come over to his home, his family said.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Layered background sighs, a resonant lead vocal, autumnal acoustic guitar flickers, synths both eerie and trippy—James has all his tricks on tap.
    — Ryan Leas, Pitchfork, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of trick
Noun
  • Stern placed the disagreement over the bill within a broader, historical Jewish practice of debate and questioning.
    — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Nonprofit boards offer an excellent starting point, providing opportunities to develop crucial governance skills like strategic thinking, accountability, and constructive questioning.
    — Melissa A. Wheeler, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of questioning
Noun
  • The space telescope hasn't just collected incredible data; its images have also given the general public a new appreciation for the beauty and wonder of space.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Although an Assassin's Creed-style parkour system would do wonders for the game's movement given the setting, the protagonist's magical steed was a joy to ride.
    — Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of wonder
Noun
  • Founded in 2019, Whatnot built its audience on novelties and collectibles.
    — Ryan Baker, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The High-Stakes Future of Prediction Markets Prediction markets have moved from a novelty to a mainstream consumer product.
    — Semafor Events, semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of novelty
Noun
  • This suggests an inherent bias from the LLM's Reinforcement Learning with Human Feedback (RLHF) training, where human input inadvertently promotes traits like curiosity.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Craig was extremely productive at Harvard and has NFL-caliber traits with his size, mobility and throw power.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of trait

Browse Nearby Words

curiosities
curiosity
curious
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Cite this Entry

“Curiosity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curiosity. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on curiosity

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about curiosity

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