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quirkiness

quirkiness

3 5.6
An unusual but pleasant way of behaving
  • noun
  • /ˈkwɜrkɪnəs/
translation icon : peculiaridad
  • It's where our own language is spoken, social and professional relationships are forged, mutual support is encouraged, and degrees of quirkiness are cheerfully tolerated.
  • the quirkiness of the town

Oh yeah, my unique sort of quirkiness.

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Examples

  • As the author of a popular oral history called Rockport Remembered, a self-described "love letter to the town that has been at the center of most of my life," he is a champion of the town's quirkiness and its prickly independent characters.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • I admire your quirkiness, dude.

  • I'm enjoying Horizon, not my favorite, but it has its own quirkiness.

    Blog text (18)
  • She's got that British quirkiness audiences love.

  • I'm disappointed that this episode was lacking the quirkiness and great writing it deserves.

    Blog text (20)
  • Culturally, there's so much quirkiness, tolerance for eccentricity, for brilliance, not just excellence.

  • The quirkiness of her artwork makes it stand out among the other pieces in the gallery.

  • His quirkiness adds a unique charm to our group, making every meeting more enjoyable.

  • Many people appreciate the quirkiness of the old bookstore, with its mismatched furniture and eclectic decor.

Synonyms

novelty
vsquirkiness
47 4.7

Something new or different that seems interesting

focuses on personal odd habits rather than newness
quirk
vsquirkiness
40 6.0

An unusual habit or trait that makes a person different

is the overall quality of being unusually appealing
weirdness
vsquirkiness
35 4.6

Being very strange or unusual in a way that attracts attention

is milder and implies a pleasant kind of oddness rather than shock
eccentricity
vsquirkiness
15 7.8

Unusual behavior or habits that are different from what most people do

adds a sense of charm or appeal to that difference
peculiarity
vsquirkiness
14 6.1

An unusual feature that makes someone or something different

is the attractive quality that makes that feature interesting
idiosyncrasy
vsquirkiness
12 8.3

An unusual personal habit or way of behaving that makes someone different

is the general appeal of such personal odd traits
oddity
vsquirkiness
12 5.9

An unusual habit, quality, or way of thinking

is the positive, attractive quality behind that unusual habit
strangeness
vsquirkiness
12 5.5

The feeling that something is unusual or hard to explain

adds an element of charm or interestingness to the unusualness
kink
vsquirkiness
  • Informal
8 7.7

An unusual habit or idea someone has

is the pleasing unusual quality behind that small twist
funkiness
vsquirkiness
1 7.4

A style that is different and unusual, often lively and playful

is similar but focuses more on a charming personal trait
kookiness
vsquirkiness
1 7.1

A quality of being strange and playful that makes people smile

is like that but emphasizes being appealing rather than just playful
oddness
vsquirkiness
1 5.8

A state of being unusual or strange in a way that is hard to explain

frames that strangeness as appealing or interesting rather than baffling
unconventionality
vsquirkiness
1 7.5

Doing things in a new or unusual way

is more about a charming unusual habit than general unorthodoxy
quaintness
vsquirkiness
1 6.7

A charming old-fashioned quality that people like

is the personal habit quality that makes something interesting
quirky personality
vsquirkiness
1 4.8

A person who acts in an unusual but likable way

is the single quality that makes those traits appealingly odd
screwiness
vsquirkiness
  • Informal
1 8.0

A strange way of behaving that is often funny or surprising

is the appealing unusualness that feels charming rather than only amusing
zaniness
vsquirkiness
1 7.1

Funny, silly, unpredictable behaviour or ideas that make people laugh

is more about a pleasant unusual character than pure silliness
unusualness
vsquirkiness
1 6.9

How different or rare something is compared with what people expect

specifies that the not-usual quality is interesting or appealing
crotchet
vsquirkiness
  • Archaic
9.9

A strange or unusual habit someone has

is the broader appealing unusualness behind that habit
whimsicality
vsquirkiness
7.9

A playful, imaginative way of acting or creating that seems unusual and unpredictable

is the attractive odd quality rather than only playful imagination
queerness
vsquirkiness
  • Archaic
7.8

An unusual way of behaving or living

is the appealing unusualness focused on distinctive habits
atypicality
vsquirkiness
8.3

Being different from the usual type or pattern

adds an appealing, quirky quality to that mismatch
uncommonness
vsquirkiness
8.3

Being rare or not often seen

is the personal, attractive oddness rather than mere rarity

Antonyms

36 4.1

The usual state when life returns to the expected routine

3 4.1

A state of being usual and not special

How Quirky

eccentricity
15 7.8
quirkiness
3 5.6
strangeness
12 5.5
oddness
1 5.8

Surface Forms

quirkiness singular
quirkinesses plural

Morphology

quirkiness = quirky (transparent) = quirk + y + ness

The noun is a straightforward nominalization of the adjective 'quirky' using the productive suffix '-ness'.

Etymology

Quirkiness comes from the old word quirk, which once meant a 'sudden twist' or 'turn', like a small bend in the road of someone's behaviour. A helpful way to remember it is to think of a little, charming twist in a person's habits, which is why quirkiness means an unusual but appealing trait and is the same idea behind quirky, meaning 'odd'.