1
as in bizarre
conceived or made without regard for reason or reality
she harbors the fanciful notion that she has a talent for singing
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2
as in imaginary
not real and existing only in the imagination
the fanciful creatures that J.R.R. Tolkien created for his Middle Earth novels
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fanciful
Fairy Garden Accessories Let your imagination loose to repurpose wine corks in all sorts of fanciful ways for fairy gardens.
—
Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Dec. 2025
In following the fanciful story of two lovers journeying separately through East and Southeast Asia in the early 20th century, Gomes mixes staged scenes with documentary footage — some of it distinctly modern, some of it seemingly more timeless.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
The title is much more than fanciful.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 30 Nov. 2025
In its first, most romantic act, Hamnet is enchanting and fanciful; Agnes traipses through the lush forests of Warwickshire, embarking upon a sweet, awkward courtship with Shakespeare.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fanciful
Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Dec. 2025
In following the fanciful story of two lovers journeying separately through East and Southeast Asia in the early 20th century, Gomes mixes staged scenes with documentary footage — some of it distinctly modern, some of it seemingly more timeless.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
The title is much more than fanciful.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 30 Nov. 2025
In its first, most romantic act, Hamnet is enchanting and fanciful; Agnes traipses through the lush forests of Warwickshire, embarking upon a sweet, awkward courtship with Shakespeare.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fanciful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fanciful
Adjective
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His work is marked by unusual, even bizarre, material choices that encrust spatial compositions reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s innovative open space plans.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
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Some unnamed Chicago bartender in the early 1880s had the improbable idea of taking a Whiskey Sour and adding a little red wine to the top, inventing in a bizarre flash of insightone of the great warm weather whiskey drinks of our time.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Under the noonday sun while fishing, or stealing light from the full moon, the point of his pencil traced the imaginary movements of the washers, threads, coil springs, cylinders, bolts, and screws that had long enriched the workings of his mind.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Torgashev dropped an imaginary microphone for his ending pose, then doubled over before dropping to a knee as the crowd rose to its feet.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
After the first Roundtable, Survivor stalwart Rob Cesternino — perhaps clued in by Candiace’s absurd conga line ploy to get people out of the kitchen — sniffed out that a murder in plain sight could be happening.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
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Contrary to what many may think, the researchers found no correlation between a person’s level of education and their capacity to believe in absurd conspiracies.—
Joe Wilkins Published Jan 8,
Futurism,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Anyone who’s survived to 2026 knows the upper class’ fictitious fantasies still carry real, wretched consequences for the rest of us, but Season 4 plays out those ongoing scenarios to the nth degree, while condensing them into an appreciable narrative arc.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
11 Jan. 2026
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The series, which premiered on Netflix at the end of 2024, tells the story of the Buendía family over multiple generations and is set in the fictitious town of Macondo, Colombia, which the family founded.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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To do a lot less foolish, thoughtless, stupid, idiotic things.—
Gwen Faulkenberry,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
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No one should be defending activists who engage in the most foolish and dangerous actions!—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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As the voice of Rumi, Ejae performed the lead vocals of all the songs for HUNTR/X, the movie's fictional k-pop girl group that moonlights as demon hunters who protect the world from soul-sucking monsters.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026
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In the fictional story of the Shakespeare family, their family tragedy leads Shakespeare to write Hamlet.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Finally standing in front of each other, sharing our vows with our closest family and friends, felt unreal.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
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The final form of the Mind Flayer, that crazy big Lovecraftian thing, looks unreal.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The veil seamlessly transitions into sculptural braids, and the almost mythical look was topped off with perfectly clear glass tips over her natural nails.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
12 Jan. 2026
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The name Siren's Curse comes from the mythical sirens who reside in Lake Erie and lure sailors with their singing.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fanciful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fanciful. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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