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 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
Grealish’s role was restricted in its scope given he was rigidly positioned on the left flank, but to suggest that Guardiola outlawed Grealish from dribbling is a fanciful explanation for his lack of flow.
—
Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025
What To Know During his interview with Katie Miller, Vance spoke at length about parenting anecdotes that included his children's fanciful statements and how the family treated Secret Service code names as a source of amusement.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Perfect Pairings Whether your vision includes a classic white suit, a fanciful blouse, or a matching skirt set that's fall wedding-ready, these coordinated sets ahead are all perfect pairings for the wedding gown-averse bride.
—Laura Lajiness Kaupke, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2025
There’s also plenty of fanciful styles to watch, from glam to grunge for the fashionistas out there.
—Katie Grant, Parents, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fanciful
Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025
What To Know During his interview with Katie Miller, Vance spoke at length about parenting anecdotes that included his children's fanciful statements and how the family treated Secret Service code names as a source of amusement.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Perfect Pairings Whether your vision includes a classic white suit, a fanciful blouse, or a matching skirt set that's fall wedding-ready, these coordinated sets ahead are all perfect pairings for the wedding gown-averse bride.
—Laura Lajiness Kaupke, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2025
There’s also plenty of fanciful styles to watch, from glam to grunge for the fashionistas out there.
—Katie Grant, Parents, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fanciful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fanciful
Adjective
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But everything changes when a string of gruesome killings—which grow increasingly bizarre, with victims covered in rashes and found in deranged, violent states—involves his young daughter Hyo-jin (Kim Hwan-hee).—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Paxton’s interest in Paul’s plight was bizarre, obsessive and so far beyond normal operations at the attorney general’s office that the agency’s top officials struggled to convey their concerns during the hourslong meeting with two FBI agents.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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There’s no denying that catfish noodling is an absurd sport.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
11 Sep. 2025
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Barely any other media in recent times has given me an instant shock of glee or revulsion like this absurd anarcho-cartoon being stretched and squeezed to its most grotesque and wholesome clickbait limits.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The mockumentary about a fictitious paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania aired from 2005 to 2013.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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The bad news about this fictitious mountainside hole-in-the-wall?—
Tim McGovern,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But giving someone as historically great as Derrick Henry added motivation, certainly may prove to be a foolish decision from Delpit.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
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There’s highly capable support in the cast from the unfailingly superb Vázquez, emanating gravitas, humanity and barely contained anger at the increasing frequency and spread of wildfires and the foolish refusal of those in power to address the growing threat.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Few characters, real or imaginary, have sustained this type of stage and screen presence for so many decades.—
Michael Taube,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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But Laura, used to getting away with murder, just neglected Daniel’s imaginary corpse after conjuring it.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Nowadays, these routes and addresses can sometimes call to my mind the Camino Real—the old Spanish road lost and buried but commuted upon daily—or that mythic expanse of the Mediterranean where Odysseus lost his way and people live and work to this day.—
Manuel Muñoz,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
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For baseball aficionados, the name Sandy Koufax is almost mythical.—
Steve Futterman,
NPR,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Winocour’s intent seems to be to take the fashion world, in its slightly unreal glamour and money and power, and bring it gently down to earth and humanize it.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
9 Sep. 2025
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The air is fresh, the pace is calm, and the views are unreal.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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To respond to a volatile inflation crisis, should the CEO of Burger & Bites, a fictional fast-food chain, introduce dynamic pricing to its restaurants?—
Elie Ofek,
Harvard Business Review,
14 Sep. 2025
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College football fan favorite Fansville, a satirical episodic drama from Dr Pepper set in a fictional college town, is returning for its eighth season.—
Kristi Dosh,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fanciful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fanciful. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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