whim

[ wim, hwim ]

noun

1. an odd or capricious notion or desire; a sudden or freakish fancy:

   a sudden whim to take a midnight walk.

   Synonyms: caprice, vagary, whimsy

2. capricious humor:

   to be swayed by whim.

whim

/ wɪm /

noun

1. a sudden, passing, and often fanciful idea; impulsive or irrational thought
2. a horse-drawn winch formerly used in mining to lift ore or water

Word History and Origins

Origin of whim¹

First recorded in 1635–45; short for whim-wham

Word History and Origins

Origin of whim¹

C17: from whim-wham

Example Sentences

“We’ll figure it out after that. But, you know, the whims of my life shouldn’t interrupt hers.”

From Los Angeles Times

Significant as the HHS role is, Kennedy would still find his powers curtailed by the limits of the agency’s reach — and potentially by the whims of his boss.

From Los Angeles Times

No one, however, has ever gone broke by betting that elected Republicans would ultimately cave to Trump and his whims.

From Salon

Apparently on a whim, he ordered the withdrawal of American troops from Somalia, where they were involved in the war against the jihadist group al-Shabab - a decision reversed by the Biden administration.

From BBC

But every state that codifies abortion rights in its constitution reinforces them against the whims of elected officials.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• impulse
• inclination
• vagary