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
Absent Huawei this might be fanciful, but China’s leading technology company already has an Android alternative.
—
Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Kitchen veteran Liliane is often the tart-yet-affectionate voice of reason when Antonin gets a little too fanciful for his culinary britches.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 11 June 2025
First, both threats are fanciful to the point of serving as performance art.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2025
Leading up to the 2026 election, the Massachusetts Democratic Party must have a rigorous debate on the direction of our party, our Commonwealth and our country, rather than a fanciful debate on issues better suited for an academic environment.
—Scott W. Lang, Boston Herald, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fanciful
Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Kitchen veteran Liliane is often the tart-yet-affectionate voice of reason when Antonin gets a little too fanciful for his culinary britches.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 11 June 2025
First, both threats are fanciful to the point of serving as performance art.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2025
Leading up to the 2026 election, the Massachusetts Democratic Party must have a rigorous debate on the direction of our party, our Commonwealth and our country, rather than a fanciful debate on issues better suited for an academic environment.
—Scott W. Lang, Boston Herald, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fanciful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fanciful
Adjective
-
While most players at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship are battling the Texas heat, slow play, and a demanding Fields Ranch East layout, Leona Maguire is dealing with something far more bizarre—tick bites!—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 June 2025
-
The bizarre mix of world football and American football was once again clashing early in the game.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
The nutrient can indeed help with all of those, but sometimes, the claims turn absurd.—
Lila Shroff,
The Atlantic,
20 June 2025
-
The College World Series semifinals concluded Wednesday, allowing Houston Astros manager Joe Espada another chance to marvel at an absurd ascension.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
In the film, a massive great white shark hunts people swimming in the water surrounding the fictitious Amity Island.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
13 June 2025
-
Ever since Max began streaming the drama about life in a fictitious Pittsburgh emergency room, it’s been one pinch-me moment after another for Wyle and his fellow executive producers John Wells and R. Scott Gemmill.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
Making a prediction for Game 7 is obviously foolish.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
-
This seems foolish since the U.S. has some 25-30% of the world’s coal, which is even more than China.—
Jude Clemente,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
Several heads of industry have toyed with creating an imaginary staff, embracing the self-mirroring feedback loop of their output as a plus.—
Sheldon Pearce,
NPR,
17 June 2025
-
Answer: Minnesota Who was Riley’s childhood imaginary friend?—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
Even with the security, though, collectors and fans are able to get up close to items that may have previously seemed mythical.—
Larry Holder,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
-
The electric Nebraska has become a mythical object for Springsteen fans over the years, and there’s been a lot of evidence suggesting the tapes do exist.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
People on social media have been commenting about the idea of only one person surviving the crash, calling it unreal, remarkable, a work of divine intervention, and a miracle.—
Lisa Baumann,
Chicago Tribune,
13 June 2025
-
The Antigua and Barbuda Culinary month and the energy surrounding it, is just one example of how one small place can create a powerful, reverberating experience that goes well beyond those unreal sunsets and too beautiful blue waters.—
Kristin L. Wolfe,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
In the book, five strangers – a white American geographer, a South Sudanese translator, a northern Sudanese cook, a Sudanese-American filmmaker, and a local boy – find themselves at an NGO compound in the fictional town of Saraaya, on the border of Sudan and South Sudan.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
23 June 2025
-
The fictional town of Havenport was filmed in Wilmington, NC, and nearby Southport, NC.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fanciful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fanciful. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share