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.

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whimsical British  

/ ˌwɪmzɪˈkælɪtɪ, ˈwɪmzɪkəl /

adjective

1. spontaneously fanciful or playful

2. given to whims; capricious

3. quaint, unusual, or fantastic

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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

Example Sentences

Fern had a punchy writing style and ability to dash off whimsical riffs on un-newsy topics such as home decor, dyspeptic shopkeepers and bedtime stories.

From The Wall Street Journal

Some of New York City’s majestic apartment buildings are defined by their almost whimsical decorative details.

From The Wall Street Journal

And they have given their homes whimsical names such as Sea Castle, Nut House and A Turn of Fraise.

From Los Angeles Times

There are fun house mirrors, a whimsical train, a mechanical Geppetto waving in a workshop and a cat ready to set sail atop the mast of a ship.

From Los Angeles Times

After buying the home, the couple carried out an extensive interior overhaul, working with designer Billy Cotton—who is also referenced in Allen’s song—to turn the historic abode into a “weird” and whimsical wonderland.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• amusing
• comical
• droll
• eccentric
• funny
• mischievous
• odd
• unusual
• weird