as in illusion
a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality
a monster in the closet would not have been the first chimera that the boy had seen in his mind's eye
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Recent Examples of chimera
Note: this article has been updated to add details on Koller’s role on the 2021 Chimeras and to clarify/augment a couple of quotes.
—
Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Look behind that curtain and see that the great and powerful Oz is a chimera.
—Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
The Animal Legal Defense Fund, an animal advocacy organization, argued that if such chimeras gained humanlike awareness, they should be treated as human research subjects.
—Monika Piotrowska, The Conversation, 8 Dec. 2025
The chimera of a two-state solution still has widespread backing within Washington’s traditional foreign policy establishment.
—Ray Takeyh, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chimera
Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Look behind that curtain and see that the great and powerful Oz is a chimera.
—Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
The Animal Legal Defense Fund, an animal advocacy organization, argued that if such chimeras gained humanlike awareness, they should be treated as human research subjects.
—Monika Piotrowska, The Conversation, 8 Dec. 2025
The chimera of a two-state solution still has widespread backing within Washington’s traditional foreign policy establishment.
—Ray Takeyh, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chimera
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chimera
Noun
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That's why rich girl hair colors are a calling card for those who favor an upscale aesthetic, or at least a beauty look that creates the illusion of luxury.—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
17 June 2026
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Over the last 8 months, Schoening has sifted through hundreds of pages of campaign finance reports and says Marx has created the illusion of being the frontrunner.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Noun
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These memories of his brief, sad human life are uneasy dreams that Lestat wakes from on his tour bus as the sun sets over the road to Toledo.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
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One concerns a romantic dream come true that becomes a bit of a nightmare.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
14 June 2026
Noun
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For those who prefer fiction to nonfiction, mysteries edge out science fiction and fantasy as the most popular genre overall, and they are favored by both women and readers who read the most books per year (though men are more likely to pick up sci-fi and fantasy).—
Fred Backus,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
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Clarke played fantasy football for years and casually bet on offshore sportsbooks.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
18 June 2026
Noun
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The heady scent—a mix of white florals, amber, and sandalwood—induces daydreams of tanning on a white-sand beach.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
27 May 2026
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Nina, Karen and Caroline started appearing in my daydreams, full of vigor and life lessons.—
Jennifer Acker,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
Noun
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The collection made the wait feel almost purposeful, as if absence sharpened the duo’s already exacting vision.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
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Roman will pair a large field of view with crisp infrared vision to survey deep, vast swaths of sky.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chimera.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chimera. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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