adj
whimsical
WIHM-zih-kuhl
Whimsical (adj) means Playfully unusual, quaint, or fanciful, especially in a light-hearted way. Example: “The children's book was full of whimsical illustrations of talking animals.”
adj
1
Playfully unusual, quaint, or fanciful, especially in a light-hearted way.
"The children's book was full of whimsical illustrations of talking animals."
"Her whimsical sense of humour made even dull meetings enjoyable."
How to use whimsical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPlayfully odd or imaginative, in a charming rather than serious way.
Common pairings
whimsical design
whimsical charm
whimsical humour
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more whimsical
- Superlative
- most whimsical
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The children's book was full of _____ illustrations of talking animals.
Etymology
Formed from whimsy plus the adjective ending -ical.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for whimsical
See all rhymes for whimsical →Frequently asked questions
What does “whimsical” mean?
The word “whimsical” means playfully unusual, quaint, or fanciful, especially in a light-hearted way. In plain terms, playfully odd or imaginative, in a charming rather than serious way.
How do you pronounce “whimsical”?
“Whimsical” is pronounced WIHM-zih-kuhl (/ˈwɪmzɪkəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “whimsical” in a sentence?
Here is “whimsical” used in a sentence: “The children's book was full of whimsical illustrations of talking animals.”
What part of speech is “whimsical”?
“Whimsical” is an adjective.
