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Quirk: alternatives and connections

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26,102 words currently have published synonym-style alternatives
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350,924 published thesaurus relationships of every type
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Quirk

A sudden turn; a starting from the point or line; hence, an artful evasion or subterfuge; a shift; a quibble; as, the quirks of a pettifogger.

51 useful connections shown 9 reviewed relationships and 42 broader connections.
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Reviewed alternatives and contrasts

These links were deliberately created. Use the interchangeability score and guidance to judge whether a word will work in your sentence.

Broader term 4

Channel 76% connected

The hollow bed where a stream of water runs or may run.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Groove 76% connected

A furrow, channel, or long hollow, such as may be formed by cutting, molding, grinding, the wearing force of flowing water, or constant travel; a dep…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Strangeness 76% connected

The state or quality of being strange (in any sense of the adjective).

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Twist 76% connected

To contort; to writhe; to complicate; to crook spirally; to convolve.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Derivationally related 2

Queer 74% connected

At variance with what is usual or normal; differing in some odd way from what is ordinary; odd; singular; strange; whimsical; as, a queer story or ac…

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Queer 74% connected

At variance with what is usual or normal; differing in some odd way from what is ordinary; odd; singular; strange; whimsical; as, a queer story or ac…

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Synonym 3

Crotchet 92% connected

A forked support; a crotch.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Oddity 92% connected

The quality or state of being odd; singularity; queerness; peculiarity; as, oddity of dress, manners, and the like.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Queerness 92% connected

The quality or state of being queer.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

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Words connected by meaning

Their definitions overlap or refer to similar ideas. Use these to widen your search, then compare the exact meanings.