quirky
Americanadjective
-
quirkier,
comparative
-
quirkiest
superlative
Usage
What does quirky mean? Quirky describes something that has or is full of quirks, which are odd or unusual qualities. Usually, a person is described as quirky when they behave in a way or have qualities that are unique to them or that set them apart from others. Things are described as quirky when they have odd qualities. A quirky house, for example, might be painted fluorescent colors or have an odd shape. Examples:
- Because Janet dyes her hair bright green and wears roller skates more than shoes, people think of her as quirky.
- The painting’s irregular shapes and vivid colors give it a quirky feel.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of quirky
Explanation
Your friend with the pink hair, the excellent vocabulary, and the totally inappropriate wit? You could probably call her quirky, meaning she’s unconventional and has a strange mix of traits that somehow end up being kind of interesting or charming. This informal all-purpose term can be used to describe anything that doesn’t quite fit in. The adjective quirky is often used to describe those unconventional things that are characterized by peculiar behavior or an unexpected point of view. Quirky is often used to describe people, but it can also refer to things that seem to possess an unexpected and unconventional element, like a quirky strategy or a quirky idea.
Vocabulary lists containing quirky
40 SAT words Beginning with "Q"
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"The Witches" by Roald Dahl, Chapters 1–5
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Scrabble: Words that Begin with Q
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But like a person who tries too hard to act quirky, they feel more forced than fun.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Fans in New York unable to secure -- or afford -- a ticket to the final flocked to quirky watch parties.
From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026
“AI has gotten better at all the quirky human behavior — the little head tilts and hesitations and body language,” she says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
Once a quirky background detail that played an outsized role in his nomination, Kavanaugh’s extracurricular interests have now been elevated by the Supreme Court into a legal fixture of constitutional law.
From Slate ● Jun. 30, 2026
So I figured her interest in the war had to do with the fact that, quirky as she was, Maya had a good heart.
From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio
But over the course of four days, I sought out some of the quirkier corners of the city.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
Eugene Ottinger is one of Nevermore Academy's quirkier students and president of the school's beekeeping club, which is where he first befriends Wednesday.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2025
But the 1st District race is one of the quirkier ones.
From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2024
The strong showing for Universal’s “Oppenheimer” comes after a string of years that saw Oscar voters favor smaller, quirkier fare like “Parasite,” “Nomadland,” “CODA” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 23, 2024
Kraus is a powerfully original writer, and her book is quirkier.
From New York Times ● Nov. 21, 2022
"The quirkiest thing for us about it is every time you open the curtains you've got 25 people outside taking photos of your house - that takes a lot of getting used to."
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
Mississippi State hired Washington State’s Mike Leach as head coach, bringing one of the nation’s quirkiest and most successful coaches to the SEC.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 13, 2022
My closest friend is also the quirkiest in the group.
From Slate ● Oct. 11, 2022
Perhaps the neighborhood’s quirkiest new addition is the penthouse apiary established in June at the pinnacle of Smith Tower, Seattle’s first skyscraper.
From New York Times ● Sep. 1, 2022
The quirkiest part of his outfit is the ponytail holder.
From "The Fourteenth Goldfish" by Jennifer L. Holm
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
