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

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 notes

In plain EnglishPlayfully odd or imaginative, in a charming rather than serious way.

Common pairings

whimsical design whimsical charm whimsical humour

Word forms

more whimsical comparative, most whimsical superlative

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Fill the gap

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The children's book was full of _____ illustrations of talking animals.

Etymology

Formed from whimsy plus the adjective ending -ical.

Rhymes for whimsical

musical comical radical medical logical lyrical typical cynical optical magical ethical inimical

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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.