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quaint

quaint

76 5.8
Something pleasant and old-fashioned that seems a little unusual
  • adjective
  • /kwent/
translation icon : pintoresco
  • It is in a quaint little part of town with a cobblestone street in front.
  • a quaint village
  • a quaint town
  • a quaint little house

It's so cute and quaint and pretty wonderful, actually.

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Examples

  • Through the windows, outside, we can see the quaint little town of Winnipesaukee.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • On our first date, she took me to a quaint little restaurant out of town.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • It's so cute and quaint and pretty wonderful, actually.

  • It's really quaint and quiet here.

  • And now, according to the quaint local custom, it's your turn to tell us what your name is.

  • I love to have fresh flowers, and this is just a really quaint, cozy area that we love.

  • You go over to Europe and they have these quaint, darling little retail strips with apartments up above them.

  • On the one hand, she pictured the quaint, rustic cabin of Romantic poets.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • This quaint shop, which once housed rare Oriental objects... ...now makes way for the future, Daniel Clamp style.

  • On our first date, she took me to a quaint little restaurant out of town.

Synonyms

quirky
vsquaint
67 4.4

Unusual in a way that is odd but likable

focuses more on old-fashioned charm rather than modern odd behavior
old-time
vsquaint
18 6.7

Like music or clothes from a past time that feel warm and familiar

is similar but sometimes highlights unusual oddness rather than only past feel
olde worlde
vsquaint
  • Archaic
9.9

Having the charming style of things from the past

is also attractive and old-fashioned but can feel odd or simply unusual

Antonyms

1.4

Relating to the present time and new ways of doing things

683 1.0

Normal and not special or unusual

Compounds

A small town with old, attractive houses and narrow streets

How Charming

enchanting
22 3.7
charming
418 1.0
picturesque
23 5.3
quaint
76 5.8
quirky
67 4.4
plain
50 2.5

Surface Forms

quaint positive

Etymology

Quaint comes from an old French word that meant 'clever' or 'known', and it is related to the English word acquaint ('to make known'). Over time the idea of something 'clever' turned into 'unusual' and then into 'attractively old-fashioned', which is why we call charming old houses or decorations 'quaint' today.