VividLex

Home / Thesaurus / inquisitive

Thesaurus: inquisitive

Disposed to ask questions, especially in matters which do not concern the inquirer.

Full dictionary entry Search Lens associations

Related headwords

Definitions

  1. a. Disposed to ask questions, especially in matters which do not concern the inquirer.
  2. a. Given to examination, investigation, or research; searching; curious.
  3. n. A person who is inquisitive; one curious in research.
  4. adj. showing curiosity
  5. adj. inquiring or appearing to inquire
  6. 1. Disposed to ask questions, especially in matters which do not concern the inquirer. A wise man is not inquisitive about things impertinent. Broome. 2. Given to examination, investigation, or research; searching; curious. A young, inquisitive, and sprightly genius. I. Watts. Syn. -- Inquiring; prying; curious; meddling; intrusive. -- Inquisitive, Curious, Prying. Curious denotes a feeling, and inquisitive a habit. We are curious when we desire to learn something new; we are inquisitive when we set ourselves to gain it by inquiry or research. Prying implies inquisitiveness, and is more commonly used in a bad sense, as indicating a desire to penetrate into the secrets of others. [We] curious are to hear, What happens new. Milton. This folio of four pages [a newspaper], happy work! Which not even critics criticise; that holds Inquisitive attention, while I read. Cowper. Nor need we with a prying eye survey The distant skies, to find the Milky Way. Creech. A person who is inquisitive; one curious in research. Sir W. Temple.
  7. A person who is inquisitive; one curious in research. Sir W.Temple.
  8. j:100 s. showing curiosity s. inquiring or appearing to inquire