Definition of: fanciful

(fan′si·fəl) adjective
1. Proceeding from or produced by fancy; ideal; odd; curious in appearance.
2. Existing only in the fancy; unreal; visionary.
3. Whimsical.
—fan′ci·ful·ly adverb
—fan′ci·ful·ness noun Synonyms: chimerical, fantastic, grotesque, imaginative, visionary. That is fanciful which is dictated or suggested by fancy independently of more serious considerations; the fantastic is the fanciful with the added elements of whimsicalness and extravagance. The fanciful swings away from the real or the ordinary lightly and pleasantly, the fantastic extravagantly, the grotesque ridiculously. A fanciful arrangement of objects is commonly pleasing, a fantastic arrangement is striking, a grotesque arrangement is laughable. A fanciful theory or suggestion may be clearly recognized as such; a visionary scheme is erroneously supposed to have a basis in fact. Compare synonyms for DREAM, IDEA, IDEAL, IMAGINARY, IMAGINATION, ROMANTIC. Antonyms: accurate, calculable, calculated, commonplace, literal, ordinary, prosaic, real, reasonable, regular, sensible, solid, sound, sure, true.