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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
And that isn’t a fanciful price — tickets for the final have listed for far higher.
—
Stefan Szymanski, The Conversation, 10 June 2026
For a nostalgia-stirring vacation with friends, Sarasota—a fanciful town on Florida’s scenic Suncoast—has easy appeal for everyone.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 6 June 2026
The idea that enterprise companies across the globe would risk their data by attempting to stand up their own cybersecurity solutions by leveraging an AI model is, indeed, proving fanciful.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 4 June 2026
The fourth becomes a sophisticated lesson in arpeggios and the last, a fanciful passacaglia.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fanciful
Stefan Szymanski, The Conversation, 10 June 2026
For a nostalgia-stirring vacation with friends, Sarasota—a fanciful town on Florida’s scenic Suncoast—has easy appeal for everyone.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 6 June 2026
The idea that enterprise companies across the globe would risk their data by attempting to stand up their own cybersecurity solutions by leveraging an AI model is, indeed, proving fanciful.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 4 June 2026
The fourth becomes a sophisticated lesson in arpeggios and the last, a fanciful passacaglia.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fanciful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fanciful
Adjective
-
Weird neighbors and increasingly bizarre diversions plague every attempt Nameless Hero makes to get down the stairs of his building to the man who’s standing outside.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
14 June 2026
-
And in a bizarre twist, a criminal investigation has been opened after three dogs were found dead at the travel trailer where mauling victim Jodi Cowan was living at the time of the fatal attack.—
Natasha Holt,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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She was arrested last summer for yelling at imaginary people due to her psychiatric challenges, Murphy said.—
Jack Dura,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
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But these images as well as those from other cultures are evidence of how deeply the dog is lodged in folk consciousness as an imaginary animal alter ego.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Swipe fees and minimums make a tenth-of-a-cent charge absurd.—
Renana Ashkenazi,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
Yes, Scheffler enters this week as the betting favorite, but by his absurd standards, his probability has actually dipped.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Adjective
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In 1811, The Nottingham Review newspaper recorded what's believed to be the first historical mention of the fictitious Ludd character, described as a framework knitting apprentice near Leicester.—
Emma Bowman,
NPR,
19 June 2026
-
Chen, who is currently being held on $100,000 bail in the Clark County Detention Center, has been charged with five felony counts of bigamy and two counts of intent to utter a fictitious bill/note/check, per FOX5.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
It’s presented without winks or nudges, neither as a joke nor necessarily foolish.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
If the target was foolish enough to reuse passwords, credential thefts like these could enable the compromise of more important accounts.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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The mural that wraps around the room depicts the colorful life of the bar’s namesake, Arabella Huntington, the second wife of railroad magnate Collis Potter Huntington, and the cocktails in the drinks menu are playfully written as fictional entries in Arabella’s diary.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 June 2026
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In the show, the fictional version of Harrelson goes to stay at McConaughey's ranch in Austin, but things spiral out of control after McConaughey's mom, played by Holland Taylor, lets their possible familial connection slip.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Adjective
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Oceanfront rooms with balconies are coveted for good reason; waking up with a hot cup of coffee, salty sea air, and a view of the Atlantic is an unreal way to start the day.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
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The individual deals have taken on a slightly unreal quality.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
The businesses that will win with AI aren’t waiting for a mythical moment when the technology handles everything.—
Tomas Gorny,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
So, why does the 18-year-old, who wears that mythical number for Barcelona — most closely associated with their all-time record scorer and appearance maker Messi — not have the same privilege with La Roja?—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fanciful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fanciful. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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