as in notion
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action
on a whim, we stopped at the roadside stand to get ice cream
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of whim
Everyone seems to be working effectively except for Oscar, who makes a gigantic deep pan of bread pudding but doesn’t get it into the oven until about an hour is left, and Justin, who grabbed ambrosia salad seemingly on a whim and doesn’t have a real vision for how to update it.
—
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026
To help cater to its future owners’ whims, the 213-footer is designed with a removable modular system, which means the superyacht can be tailored to the adventure at hand.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 21 Apr. 2026
Multicoin, especially, has been at the whims of crypto’s booms and busts.
—Ben Weiss, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
The whims of the NHL’s draft lottery balls are cruel, as Canucks fans have learned repeatedly over the years.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whim
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026
To help cater to its future owners’ whims, the 213-footer is designed with a removable modular system, which means the superyacht can be tailored to the adventure at hand.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 21 Apr. 2026
Multicoin, especially, has been at the whims of crypto’s booms and busts.
—Ben Weiss, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
The whims of the NHL’s draft lottery balls are cruel, as Canucks fans have learned repeatedly over the years.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whim
Noun
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Mfume’s time representing us in Congress has been a testament to the notion of focusing on real public policy over grandstanding politics.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
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Additionally, the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh attracted attention in the United States not only with his opposition to the Vietnam War but also with his notion of Engaged Buddhism, which emphasizes improving human life through political activism and everyday acts of mindfulness.—
Charles Preston,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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One needed Mother Nature to bestow upon brewers the right temperatures for making beer, and in the days before refrigeration and even thermometers, that meant that brewing was largely dictated by the caprices of the seasons.—
Jay R. Brooks,
Mercury News,
27 Feb. 2026
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Order the waterzooi — the house specialty seafood stew — the duck confit, the crepe caprice, or the escargot petit gris served in a Roquefort cream sauce.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Mercury in your 12th House of Reflection brings up thoughts that need processing before being shared.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
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Want to stay up to date on IndieWire’s film reviews and critical thoughts?—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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Richard Scarry's beloved books, including Busy, Busy World, are enjoying a resurgence as adults who grew up with the author's work try to find the whimsy in their day-to-day lives.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
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Not too serious or sappy, but with room for both earnestness and whimsy.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Lush, dark wood shelving and the rolling library ladder of every bookish person's dreams complete the fantasy.—
Nathanael Gassett,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Apr. 2026
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Yet this is precisely the idea that the Enhanced Games is peddling—the fantasy that what Proud or Collins takes to break a world record, at a different dose, might make a man in his 70s more mobile, energized, and maybe even hotter.—
Clara Molot,
Vanity Fair,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Benedictine Sandwiches If a heavy Hot Browns isn’t your jam, especially on a warm spring day, the Derby has another traditional sandwich that may better suit your fancy.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
24 Apr. 2026
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If any of those tickle your fancy, stop at Shyboy for music, art and a drink.—
Sarah Blaskovich,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Sadiq ended up going 16th to the New York Jets, but my impression is the Panthers would have taken Freeling over him anyway.—
Joseph Person,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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After all, your garage door is one of your home's opportunities to make a first impression.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whim. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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