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 mythic
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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Recent Examples of fanciful
The cowboy style became more fanciful through the 1940s in the hands of Jewish immigrant tailors such as Rodeo Ben in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Nathan Turk and Nudie Cohn in Hollywood, California.
—
Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2025
Dressing To Impress Like the fanciful hats at the Kentucky Derby, there’s an unspoken dress code for patrons attending the tournament.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 25 Mar. 2025
In the early 1920s, tens of thousands of people across the United States, many of whom had never set foot in Florida, made down payments on unbuilt lots in the Sunshine State, lured in by fanciful brochures and fast-talking salespeople.
—Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
Its cream background is overlaid with fanciful doodles of oranges, farfalle pasta, wine, playing cards, and other feel-good finds that emphasize the beauty found in the ordinary.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fanciful
Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2025
Dressing To Impress Like the fanciful hats at the Kentucky Derby, there’s an unspoken dress code for patrons attending the tournament.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 25 Mar. 2025
In the early 1920s, tens of thousands of people across the United States, many of whom had never set foot in Florida, made down payments on unbuilt lots in the Sunshine State, lured in by fanciful brochures and fast-talking salespeople.
—Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
Its cream background is overlaid with fanciful doodles of oranges, farfalle pasta, wine, playing cards, and other feel-good finds that emphasize the beauty found in the ordinary.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fanciful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fanciful
Adjective
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The presentation starts with teaching the compliment sandwich technique, but quickly goes off the rails as the participants ask more bizarre questions.—
Rosa Escandon,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
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Heti’s writing is witty, reflective, and just bizarre enough to capture your interest even as people mill about in your peripheral vision.—
Bekah Waalkes,
The Atlantic,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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This week’s episode tackles the minefield of casting, as execs melt down over the racial politics of casting their absurd Kool-Aid tentpole.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
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Once again, that means going to absurd lengths in the quest to facilitate banter between pilots, even if some of those attempts hilariously crash and burn.—
EW Staff,
EW.com,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
The two stars of the Emmy-winning 1990s romantic comedy series Northern Exposure, set in the zany fictitious town of Cicely, Alaska, are adding their names to the avalanche of television stars binging their old shows, offering commentary about the storylines and sharing behind-the-scenes tales.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
6 May 2025
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Later on, Weekend Update featured a trio of guest appearances from Bowen Yang who resurrected his recurring Chinese trade minister Chen Biao, Emil Wakim and his notes on American patriotism and Sarah Sherman as Jost’s fictitious accountant Dawn Altman.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But the Liberals are an electoral machine—something of a rarity on the center-left—that would be foolish to bet against.—
Daniel Block,
The Atlantic,
29 Apr. 2025
-
His cigars weren’t as nasty as his habit of chasing bad money with worse—high living and foolish investments, with second-rate writing meant to plug the gap.—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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New York is a realm of fantasy and myth, obsession and resentment, fear and bewilderment for many who’ve never set foot in it; and many who live here also purvey and perpetuate some version of the imaginary city.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
10 May 2025
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The imaginary elements of the story — the witches, and the university — stem from growing up with my father, and reading novels by Julio Verne and Emilio Salgari.—
Ernesto Lechner,
Rolling Stone,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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The Chicago Bears, unofficial offseason champs more than once in recent years, could be pushing for another mythical crown.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
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For the uninitiated, these mythical concepts, Vril and Agartha, both originate in books.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Meeting your life-long love as a child at church may seem unreal.—
India Espy-Jones,
Essence,
28 Apr. 2025
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Spectators and commentators alike were taken aback as the incident unfolded due to the unreal farmer's tan of Phillips.—
Mark Weinstein,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Also surmised by the movie trailer is that the plot surrounds fictional driver Sonny Hayes, played by actor Brad Pitt.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
4 May 2025
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Focus Features Papal conclaves have inspired several books and films Released in 2024, the movie Conclave, based on the 2016 novel of the same name, focuses on the fictional death of a Pope and the subsequent election process.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fanciful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fanciful. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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