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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fanciful
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.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2025
Designed in collaboration with English expat Jake Arnold—interior designer to the stars and founder of The Expert—the collection just launched and will transform your backyard into a fanciful setting for long, lingering lunches.
—Monika Biegler Eyers, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Mar. 2025
The fanciful tea shop also sells gourmet teas, live plants, and decoratives, like antique bird cages, wall art, and vintage tea pots.
—Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2025
From the front, the striking white stucco exterior walls, pitched roof lines, fanciful turret and dramatic circular driveway — not to mention tulip trees — are just a preamble to the contemporary elegance found inside.
—David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fanciful
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2025
Designed in collaboration with English expat Jake Arnold—interior designer to the stars and founder of The Expert—the collection just launched and will transform your backyard into a fanciful setting for long, lingering lunches.
—Monika Biegler Eyers, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Mar. 2025
The fanciful tea shop also sells gourmet teas, live plants, and decoratives, like antique bird cages, wall art, and vintage tea pots.
—Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2025
From the front, the striking white stucco exterior walls, pitched roof lines, fanciful turret and dramatic circular driveway — not to mention tulip trees — are just a preamble to the contemporary elegance found inside.
—David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fanciful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fanciful
Adjective
-
Continue reading … 'THIS IS SO CRAZY' – DOGE reveals bizarre findings of unemployment insurance claims.—
FOXNews.com,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
He is rarely seen making a grand gesture or engaging in behavior that could be described as bizarre.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This whole exercise of proving the absence of antisemitism as a prerequisite to criticizing Israeli government policy is absurd.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Still, the sexist double standards around pockets have continued to be present in absurd ways.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Amid the audience laughter at a lecture, U.S. Navy oceanographer Robert Ballard bit his tongue and told the questioner the jewelry was fictitious.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Searches were carried out in France and Belgium last month to determine if his Belgian tax domicile was fictitious.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
While tailback isn’t a need, only foolish franchises pass up adding generational talents such as Jeanty.—
Omar Kelly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Evening rush-hour commuters — who thought winter was over — felt foolish after the city was socked with a record-breaking spring snowfall.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The Emmy Award-winner plays the Black woman stand-in for a white male protagonist in an imaginary story to repurpose the popularity of a once successful Keyworth Pictures’ franchise.—
Malik Peay,
Essence,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Perception Of Threat: In situations of aggression, whether real or imaginary, a natural response is to fight back.—
Naira Velumyan,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This relic of constitutional law, which the Supreme Court hasn’t taken seriously since its quiet death in the New Deal era, is more mythical than historical—holding, more or less, that Congress cannot delegate its lawmaking power to another branch of government.—
Cristian Farias,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
-
This name originates from a Greek myth. Eunice: Another historic Greek name, the mythical Eunice was the sea-nymph daughter of Nereus and Doris.—
Lydia Wang,
Parents,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
His day was capped off with an unreal approach shot from 200 yards out on 18.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Arrival of The Manimal: Future Nuggets standout Kenneth Faried made his debut at the Pepsi Center in 2011 and went from a relative unknown to unreal.—
Troy Renck,
The Denver Post,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Bad Summer People, which has drawn comparisons to The White Lotus, is set in the idyllic fictional town of Salcombe, Fire Island, and follows a sequence of life shattering events when a body is discovered off the side of the boardwalk.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
-
In the series, Sephora becomes a sponsor for the fictional Los Angeles Waves basketball team, of which Kate Hudson’s character becomes the president.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fanciful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fanciful. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share