quizzical

adjective

ˈkwi-zi-kəl How to pronounce quizzical (audio)
Definition of quizzicalnext
as in joking
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing my puns are usually greeted with loud quizzical groans by my so-called friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of quizzical There won’t be any TikTok dances near Amen Corner, nor quizzical reels filmed with Jason Kelce under the Big Oak. — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 6 Apr. 2026 With quizzical eyes upon it, Players Era announced that its checks ultimately cleared a couple weeks later, with most of the money routed through schools’ dedicated NIL collectives. — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 17 Feb. 2026 By widening the lens, Clark is able to redirect the book’s gaze from the mother toward a quizzical, sometimes critical, but not unaffectionate portrait of two generations of political activism, with the attendant self-involvement and domestic negligence. — James Wood, New Yorker, 4 May 2026 Dozens of media outlets, from international agencies to local TV stations to true crime podcasters, were inside the Lexington County courthouse to again chronicle every forehead rub and quizzical look from the once rich and imposing Southern lawyer. — Jeffrey Collins, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for quizzical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quizzical
  1. sarcastic
  2. mocking
Adjective
  • This is taken as evidence of his status, not a sarcastic criticism.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
  • On Monday night, Contreras was ejected in the second inning after a check-swing strikeout prompted him to give a sarcastic ABS challenge gesture at the umpire, earning an instant boot.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of sarcastic
Adjective
  • To get a sense of his whole deal, look no further than the half-mocking, half-earnest title of his latest album, Country!
    — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025
Definition of mocking

Browse Nearby Words

quizzes
quizzical
quizzically
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Cite this Entry

“Quizzical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quizzical. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on quizzical

Nglish: Translation of quizzical for Spanish Speakers

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