whimsical

[hwim-zi-kuhl, wim-]

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

/ ˌwɪmzɪˈkælɪtɪ, ˈwɪmzɪkəl /

adjective

1. spontaneously fanciful or playful

2. given to whims; capricious

3. quaint, unusual, or fantastic

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of whimsical¹

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

Example Sentences

For my wedding at Nestldown, my aesthetic was stately and whimsical gnomes.

From Los Angeles Times

"What they did wrong is they went against their brand story, which was the old logo, that reflected the southern, whimsical atmosphere in the stores."

From BBC

Pyne said it’s still too soon to say whether the federal workforce’s “downsizing and whimsical firings” had anything to do with the Dragon Bravo’s fire’s disastrous escape.

From Los Angeles Times

But the pair also excelled at photography, film, graphic design and even whimsical toys and sculptures.

From Los Angeles Times

They have no street addresses, instead giving their homes whimsical nicknames like Almost Heaven and Faux Chateau.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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