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Synonyms

whimsical

American  
[hwim-zi-kuhl, wim-] / ˈʰwɪm zɪ kəl, ˈwɪm- /

adjective

  1. given to whimsy or fanciful notions; capricious.

    a pixyish, whimsical fellow.

  2. of the nature of or proceeding from whimsy, as thoughts or actions.

    Her writing showed whimsical notions of human behavior.

  3. erratic; unpredictable.

    He was too whimsical with regard to his work.
whimsical British  
/ ˌwɪmzɪˈkælɪtɪ, ˈwɪmzɪkəl /

adjective

  1. spontaneously fanciful or playful

  2. given to whims; capricious

  3. quaint, unusual, or fantastic

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • unwhimsical adjective
  • unwhimsically adverb
  • unwhimsicalness noun
  • whimsicality noun
  • whimsically adverb
  • whimsicalness noun

Etymology

Origin of whimsical

First recorded in 1645–55; whims(y) + -ical

Explanation

Whimsical means full of or characterized by whims, which are odd ideas that usually occur to you very suddenly. If you decide at the last minute to fly to Europe, you could say you went there on a whim. Whimsical can also mean tending toward odd or unpredictable behavior. Both whimsical and whim are derived from an earlier English word whim-wham, which is of unknown origin. Whim-wham had about the same meaning as whim, but could also refer to an odd object or piece of clothing.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing whimsical

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Macofsky was intrigued by the whimsical title of “Womb Witch.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

The actor, 86, finds the revelation delightful, triggering a hint of whimsical glee reminiscent of Gandalf himself.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Visitors taking a stroll along the River Lea in Hackney Marshes may spot a series of signs fixed to the trees, each sharing an eccentric, whimsical tale.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

His charming, whimsical collection featured ruffled tutus, sculptured soft knits, peplum jackets, skirts with bustles and plenty of shearling fabric.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

She’d liked the map of Kerch best, a whimsical drawing of their island nation, surrounded by mermaids swimming in the True Sea and ships blown along by winds depicted as fat-cheeked men.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.