quizzical

[ kwiz-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. odd, queer, or comical.
2. questioning or puzzled:

   a quizzical expression on her face.

3. derisively questioning, ridiculing, or chaffing.

quizzical

/ ˈkwɪzɪkəl /

adjective

1. questioning and mocking or supercilious

   a quizzical look

Derived Forms

• ˌquizziˈcality, noun
• ˈquizzically, adverb

Other Words From

• quizzi·cali·ty quizzi·cal·ness noun
• quizzi·cal·ly adverb
• un·quizzi·cal adjective
• un·quizzi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of quizzical¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; quiz + -ical

Example Sentences

Jack was 6 months old, all cheeks and smiles and full quizzical eyebrows, a delight we never got to share.

From Time

He’s not exactly tortured, but he is quizzical, an eternal seeker of truth as well as truffles.

From Time

Charles raised a quizzical eyebrow and it fell to his son to tell him, "Pa, you should be pleased!"

From The Daily Beast

Or perhaps name it after Pooh himself, with his quizzical faith in human (animal) nature?

From The Daily Beast

All of these tricks forced a furrowing of the brow, a quizzical expression, and the use of a little brain power to digest it all.

From The Daily Beast

She gave me a quizzical look,” recounts the president, “her slate-grey eyes widening as she tilted her head gently forward.

From The Daily Beast

Osmond Orgreave entered the room, quizzical, and at once began to tease Clayhanger about the infrequency of his visits.

From Project Gutenberg

"I don't know whether I like you or not," replied Edna, gazing down at the little woman with a quizzical look.

From Project Gutenberg

The look in her face was quizzical, yet there was a strange, elusive gravity in her eyes, an almost pathetic appealing.

From Project Gutenberg

Looking around, he saw the guide had flung aside his blanket and was sitting erect, with a quizzical expression on his face.

From Project Gutenberg

On one sits a tiny boy with a quizzical intelligent little face.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• incredulous
• mocking
• sardonic