SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
whim
noun
A sudden wish or idea that lacks a settled reason or plan.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Sudden unplanned wish
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topA whim lacks a settled reason or plan. An urge may be strong or persistent rather than merely fanciful or passing.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See whim in use
The editor did not want a major revision to depend on one person's whim.
Jae then had a whim to buy a dramatic table lamp after seeing it in a shop window.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license