Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Abounding in quirks or twists; irregular; zigzag; quirkish.
  • Full of quirks or subterfuges; shifty; quibbling; characterized by petty tricks: as, a quirky attorney; a quirky question.
  • Merry; sportive.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Full of quirks; tricky.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Given to quirks or idiosyncrasies; strange in a somewhat silly, awkward manner, potentially cute.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective informal terms; strikingly unconventional

Etymologies

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Examples

  • But the C programming language, which he called "quirky, flawed, and an enormous success," is the basis of nearly every programming and scripting tool, whether they use elements of C's syntax or not.

    Wired Top Stories Ars Technica 2011

  • We cannot fully answer this question without knowing more about your DO NOT QUERY US WE ARE ANONYMOUS project, but it sounds as though yes, you should query agents who specialize in "quirky" commercial fiction.

    Archive 2009-09-01 2009

  • We cannot fully answer this question without knowing more about your DO NOT QUERY US WE ARE ANONYMOUS project, but it sounds as though yes, you should query agents who specialize in "quirky" commercial fiction.

    You Asked For It 2009

  • Katrinka: when it doesnt have the kind of professional look you desire, you just call it quirky or whimsical and it becomes a special form of art.

    Use What You Have Paper Craft 2009

  • A fine-art graduate of Central Saint Martins, she has a striking visual sense and her writing is rich in quirky observations.

    Mr Chartwell by Rebecca Hunt – review Clare Clark 2010

  • Cage is in quirky mode, full of tics and phobias (see the lighthearted trailer here), but manages to be fairly grounded emotionally.

    Top 10 Ridley Scott Films » Scene-Stealers 2010

  • Gigantic: Notable actors like Zooey Deschanel, Paul Dano, and John Goodman playing quirky characters in quirky situations with no real plot.

    TIFF 2008 Wrap-Up | /Film 2008

  • I hate the use of the word quirky when it comes to indie comedies. kjell

    The Men Who Stare At Goats Movie Trailer | /Film 2009

  • Specialising in quirky narrative videos, which is a nice niche to get into.

    Mark Davis: Plastic: Interview | SciFi UK Review 2006

  • Verdict: The word quirky could have been invented to describe Pulp.

    Archive 2006-11-01 DAVID BISHOP 2006

Comments

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  • This is what it means when someone calls you quirky: "You're strange, but not to be taken seriously". Very irritating word.

    May 21, 2009