spinnerVerbs setting in ~/.claude/settings.json is ignored

[marc0der]

Description

The spinnerVerbs setting in user-level settings (~/.claude/settings.json) is not being picked up. Default spinner verbs like "Crunched" still appear instead of the configured verbs.

Configuration

~/.claude/settings.json:

{
  "spinnerVerbs": {
    "mode": "replace",
    "verbs": ["Working"]
  },
  "permissions": {
    "allow": [
      "Bash(sudo nix flake update:*)",
      "WebSearch"
    ],
    "defaultMode": "default"
  },
  "promptSuggestionEnabled": false,
  "statusLine": {
    "type": "command",
    "command": "npx -y @owloops/claude-powerline@latest --style=powerline --theme=nord"
  }
}

Expected Behavior

The spinner should display "Working" as the only verb (since mode: "replace" is set).

Actual Behavior

Default spinner verbs like "Crunched" still appear:

✻ Crunched for 1m 15s

Environment

• OS: Linux (NixOS)
• No managed settings in /etc/claude-code/
• Project-level .claude/settings.local.json exists but does not define spinnerVerbs

Notes

According to the documentation, settings should merge across scopes, and since no higher-precedence file defines spinnerVerbs, the user-level setting should apply. This appears to be a bug in how spinnerVerbs is loaded from settings.

[github-actions]

Found 3 possible duplicate issues:

1. [Bug] Project settings.local.json overwrites global settings instead of deep merging #19487
2. Project-level permissions replace global permissions instead of merging #17017
3. [BUG] permissions from user settings.json is NOT applied at project level #5140

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🤖 Generated with Claude Code

[Nxt3]

Those aren't spinner verbs. That's telling you it's done. Spinner verbs are for in-progress tasks.

[MrGriftr]

Also driving me nuts, making it unusable. I'm not sure what percentage of users have ADHD, but not being able to turn these off is a guaranteed way to lose nearly all of them.

[nyarly]

I'm also having this issue, even in projects without their own .claude directory

[scheerd]

Not working for me either. Claude Code confirmed my settings and config itself and says it's a bug. I may be a bit obsessive, but these whimsical messages are a non-starter for me, I'm going to have to find a different UI until this is resolved.

[marc0der]

@Nxt3 erm, yes they are spinner verbs. It's the list of annoying verbs that are continually, you know, spinning...

[sergiompopoli]

I'm having this same problem. My configured spinner verbs (in ~/.claude/settings.json) work fine in Claude CLI but not in Claude Code, which is still showing the typical verbs "Accomplishing","Actioning","Actualizing","Baking","Booping","Brewing", etc etc