quizzical

Also found in: Thesaurus.

quiz·zi·cal

(kwĭz′ĭ-kəl)

adj.

1. Suggesting puzzlement; questioning.

2. Teasing; mocking: "His face wore a somewhat quizzical almost impertinent air" (Lawrence Durrell).

3. Eccentric; odd.

quiz′zi·cal′i·ty (-kăl′ĭ-tē) n.

quiz′zi·cal·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

quizzical

(ˈkwɪzɪkəl)

adj

questioning and mocking or supercilious: a quizzical look.

ˌquizziˈcality n

ˈquizzically adv

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

quiz•zi•cal

(ˈkwɪz ɪ kəl)

adj.

1. odd or comical.

2. questioning or puzzled: a quizzical expression on her face.

3. derisively questioning or ridiculing.

[1790–1800]

quiz`zi•cal′i•ty, n.

quiz′zi•cal•ly, adv.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Adj.	1.	quizzical - playfully vexing (especially by ridicule); "his face wore a somewhat quizzical almost impertinent air"- Lawrence Durrell teasing, mocking playful - full of fun and high spirits; "playful children just let loose from school"
	2.	quizzical - perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know); "he had a quizzical expression" questioning perplexed - full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment; "perplexed language"; "perplexed state of the world"

quizzical

adjective mocking, questioning, inquiring, curious, arch, teasing, bantering, sardonic, derisive, supercilious He gave Robin a mildly quizzical glare.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

spöttisch

divertito

quizzical

[ˈkwɪzɪkəl] ADJ [glance] → burlón, socarrón

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

quizzical

[ˈkwɪzɪk^əl] adj [look, glance, smile] → narquois(e)

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

quizzical

adj

(= knowing, shrewd) air, look → fragend; smile → zweifelnd; face → wissend, gewitzt

(= odd) → eigenartig, drollig

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

quizzical

[ˈkwɪzɪk/əl] adj (glance) → interrogativo/a (e beffardo/a)

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

His smile showed the strong teeth of which his wife was so proud, and as he saw me his lively, quizzical eyes told me that he knew all about me.

View in context

As I had turned to receive the dead warrior's chattels I had noticed that Tars Tarkas and several others had pushed forward toward us, and the eyes of the former rested upon me in a most quizzical manner.

View in context

Presently she sat down by us, touched lightly Dominic's curly head silvered on the temples (she couldn't really help it), gazed at me for a while with a quizzical smile, observed that I looked very tired, and asked Dominic whether for all that I was likely to sleep soundly to-night.

View in context

Tarzan looked at the girl, a quizzical expression upon his face.

View in context

"You fight in platinum and diamonds?" asked Tara, indicating his gorgeous trappings with a quizzical smile.

View in context

Perhaps she flushed the least little bit, for was not the count, her husband, gazing at her with a strangely quizzical expression.

View in context

"Where did you learn all this sort of thing?" he asked with a quizzical look.

View in context

The Story Girl joined us with a quizzical smile on her face.

View in context

His jaws slightly parted, his lips lifted a little, and a quizzical expression that was more love than humour came into his eyes.

View in context

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

View in context

And I shall play tennis and go to tea-parties." He interrupted himself and gave Philip, very neatly dressed, with a clean collar on and his hair well-brushed, a quizzical look.

View in context

"Then are you so certain that your roulette-playing will get us out of our difficulties?" she inquired with a quizzical smile.