Another word for curious
The best other words for curious are interrogative, peculiar, novel and keen.
- Most formal
- interrogative, idiosyncratic, inquisitive
- Strongest
- nosey, nosy, prying
- Casual
- nosey, nosy, odd
- Instead of “very curious”
- eager, interested, intrigued
Curious /ˈkjʊriəs/ (adjective): eager to know or learn about something; interested in finding out more. In simple words: wanting to know or see something; also unusual or strange. Below are 34 rated synonyms across 4 senses, plus 34 more related words. Tap a chip for its nuance and an example.
34 synonyms shown
Interested in · adjective
wanting to know more
Odd or unusual · adjective
strange, surprising, or hard to explain
Freshly unusual · adjective
newly or unexpectedly different, especially in a way that draws attention
Wanting to see · adjective
eager to observe or explore something
Find the right strength and register
Drag the amber target to how strong and how formal you need the word to be. The three closest synonyms light up.
You asked for: equal strength, neutral register
- questioning — actively skeptical or probing
- interested — broader, less pointed desire to know
- inquisitive — more formal; often implies probing questions
The dashed ring marks “curious” itself: neutral strength, neutral register.
Synonyms for curious in your sentence
None of these quite right? Paste your sentence and the AI picks replacements that fit it.
How to choose
Use curious for the neutral, most flexible sense of wanting to know more; for private or intrusive interest, prying or nosy is closer. For strange or unusual things, curious is often gentler than bizarre or weird, which sound stronger and more judgmental.
Antonyms of curious
- apathetic
- indifferent
- uninterested
- inscrutable
- ordinary
- familiar
All synonyms at a glance
| Synonym | Strength | Formality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| interested | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| inquisitive | 3/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| inquisitive-minded | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| interrogative | 3/5 | academic | academic |
| questioning | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| nosey | 4/5 | slang | casual, creative |
| nosy | 4/5 | casual | casual, creative |
| prying | 4/5 | neutral | business, casual, creative |
| meddlesome | 4/5 | neutral | casual, creative |
| odd | 3/5 | casual | casual, creative |
| strange | 3/5 | casual | academic, casual, creative |
| peculiar | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative |
| unusual | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| bizarre | 4/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| weird | 4/5 | slang | casual, creative |
| surprising | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| unaccountable | 4/5 | formal | academic, creative |
| mysterious | 4/5 | neutral | academic, creative, casual |
| novel | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| new | 1/5 | casual | academic, business, casual |
| unconventional | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| unorthodox | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| eccentric | 4/5 | neutral | academic, creative, casual |
| offbeat | 3/5 | casual | creative, casual |
| quirky | 3/5 | casual | creative, casual |
| idiosyncratic | 4/5 | academic | academic, business, creative |
| eager | 4/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| keen | 3/5 | neutral | business, casual |
| anxious | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| itching | 4/5 | casual | casual, creative |
| hungry | 4/5 | casual | casual, creative |
| avid | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| enthusiastic | 4/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| avidly interested | 4/5 | formal | academic, business |
Instead of “very curious”
One precise word usually beats an intensifier. See the full words instead of “very” list.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| very curious | eager, interested, intrigued |
| quite curious | rather interested, somewhat puzzled, a little odd |
| curious about | interested in, wondering about, wanting to know about |
More words related to curious
Looser matches and phrases, unrated. Check the sense before you swap one in, or compare it with “curious”.
- attentive
- absorbed
- absorbing
- fascinated
- spellbound
- captivated
- intrigued
- mystified
- perplexing
- puzzling
- enigmatic
- cryptic
- arcane
- singular
- outlandish
- off-kilter
- out-of-the-ordinary
- extraordinary
- remarkable
- striking
- noticeable
- eye-catching
- curiosity-provoking
- inquiring
- investigative
- snooping
- prurient
- observant
- alert
- watchful
- eager to know
- wanting to find out
- interested to see
- wondering about
Questions about synonyms for curious
What is the most formal or academic synonym for curious?
It depends on the sense. For 'interested in learning,' inquisitive and especially inquisitive-minded are the most formal options; for a strange or unusual thing, peculiar, novel, or idiosyncratic may fit better depending on the register.
What's a stronger or milder alternative to curious?
Milder options include interested or unusual, depending on the meaning. Stronger choices include inquisitive, prying, bizarre, or weird, but each adds more specific tone, so choose carefully.
How do I know whether curious means 'interested' or 'strange'?
Look at the noun it modifies. Curious person usually means interested in finding out; curious noise or curious case usually means odd, unusual, or hard to explain.
What is another word for curious?
If curious means "wanting to know," good alternatives include interested, intrigued, and inquisitive. If it means "odd or unusual," you can use strange, unusual, or peculiar.
What is a more professional word for curious?
For the "interested in learning" sense, inquisitive or inquiring sounds more formal. For the "strange" sense, unusual or peculiar is usually more natural in formal writing.