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
Albeit a much more fanciful one that can be clipped to a keychain like a charm bracelet.
—
Boone Ashworth,
Wired News,
4 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
Albeit a much more fanciful one that can be clipped to a keychain like a charm bracelet.
—
Boone Ashworth,
Wired News,
4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fanciful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fanciful
Adjective
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When this place is eventually gone — a phrase that feels truly bizarre given the environment this summer and the half-century preceding it — the lasting images will be the seas of red.
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Continue reading … 'DEEPLY WEIRD' — CNN panel's bizarre 'read as Jewish' comment about a senator draws fierce blowback.
Adjective
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Hop aboard an imaginary Vespa, or perhaps a high-speed train eastward to the boot country, where not every meal comes blistering out of a brick oven or ladled from a bubbling pot.
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Some rehearse using a bedpan — placing it in the right spot, cleaning out the imaginary contents.
Adjective
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The 41-year-old is still an elite NBA player, which is still an absurd reality to consider.
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The thesis rests on a claim that would have sounded absurd a year ago.
Adjective
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The book traces the fictitious Yeoman family’s evolution over generations from self-sufficient homesteaders to participants in global markets.
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Hosting its usual presentation at its headquarters, located a stone’s throw from San Babila square, the brand installed video walls that broadcast a fictitious runway show created with the help of AI.
Adjective
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Comparing Young’s new deal to any extension for Davis would be a foolish exercise.
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Further, Plato’s disdain for Gorgias, Antisthenes’ first teacher, and sophistry in general is clear; in the Platonic dialogue Gorgias, the titular character is made out to be rather foolish.
Adjective
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Aside from the fictional King Kong, who first appeared in a 1933 film atop the skyscraper, others in real life legally — and illegally — climbed the famous skyscraper.
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In honor of The Bear’s final season, Jono Pandolfi’s signature white and toasted clay dinnerware (featured in the fictional restaurant) is 15% off.
Adjective
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These digital technologies have also created an echo chamber of self-confirming views, which has contributed to an unreal, simplified view of a nuanced, messy world.
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The air is fresh and clean, the pace is calm, and the views are unreal.
Adjective
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But a wiser course might be to emphasize a kind of counter-nostalgia, reclaiming a mythic past for the forces of tolerance and democratic generosity.
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Together, the band brings to life a mythic world of ancient heroes and villains, attracting an excited audience of headbangers and fantasy fanatics, many of whom show up in costume.
Cite this Entry
“Fanciful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fanciful. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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