whimsical
gb/wˈɪmzɪkəl/ us/wˈɪmzɪkəl/
B2
English
~ 9700
játékos, fantáziadús, szeszélyes, önkényes
B2
1
játékos
A2
fantáziadús
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] is whimsical
The café is decorated with whimsical drawings of cats flying through the sky.
A kávézó falait az égen repülő macskákat ábrázoló játékos rajzok díszítik.
She writes whimsical children’s books filled with talking trees and upside-down rainbows.
Fantáziadús gyerekkönyveket ír, tele beszélő fákkal és fejjel lefelé álló szivárványokkal.
His apartment has a whimsical style, with mismatched chairs and bright, hand-painted walls.
The film’s whimsical tone keeps the dark subject matter from feeling too heavy.
They added a whimsical twist to the wedding by serving desserts shaped like tiny planets.
Learner examples
The kids love the whimsical pictures in this book.
A gyerekek imádják a könyv játékos képeit.
There is a whimsical little garden behind the house.
A ház mögött van egy kedvesen különös kis kert.
Her dress has a whimsical pattern of stars and moons.
The movie is funny and whimsical, not serious.
I like his whimsical sense of humor.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "whimsical" to mean only "happy" or "funny". It also includes the idea of being unusual or imaginative. Another mistake is using it for very serious or formal things (e.g., "a whimsical police report"), which sounds unnatural unless there is a clear playful or imaginative quality.
Meaning
playfully imaginative and odd
Collocations
whimsical story
|whimsical illustration
|whimsical design
|whimsical sense of humor
|charming and whimsical
|strange and whimsical
Synonyms
playful (Focuses on fun and light-heartedness; may be less about being strange or imaginative.)
|
quirky (Suggests odd or unusual behavior or style; can sound less gentle or charming than "whimsical".)
|
fanciful (Emphasizes imagination and fantasy; can sound slightly more formal or literary.)
Antonyms
serious (Lacks playfulness or light-hearted imagination, the opposite mood of something whimsical.)
|
sober (Suggests a plain, serious, or restrained style without playful or odd details.)
Themes
art
|personality
|emotions
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Unusual and full of imagination in a fun, light way, often making people smile.
Playfully unusual, imaginative, or odd in a way that is light-hearted and often charming.
C1
2
szeszélyes
B2
önkényes
C1
Usage pattern:
[someone] makes whimsical [decisions/actions]
The boss’s whimsical decisions make it hard for the team to plan long-term projects.
A főnök szeszélyes döntései miatt a csapat nehezen tud hosszú távú projekteket tervezni.
Artists sometimes have a whimsical schedule, working all night and then resting for days.
A művészeknek néha szeszélyes a munkarendjük: egész éjjel dolgoznak, aztán napokig pihennek.
He has a whimsical approach to money, spending large amounts on random things he suddenly wants.
The director’s whimsical changes to the script frustrated the actors.
Investors fear whimsical policy shifts that come without warning or explanation.
Learner examples
Her father is whimsical and often changes plans at the last minute.
Az apja szeszélyes, és gyakran az utolsó pillanatban változtat a terveken.
The teacher’s rules feel whimsical and confusing to the students.
A tanár szabályai a diákoknak önkényesnek és zavarosnak tűnnek.
He made a whimsical choice and moved to another country in one week.
The company’s whimsical changes upset its workers.
People do not trust a leader who is whimsical.
Common mistake:
Learners often know only the playful, artistic sense of "whimsical" and may miss the negative or critical tone in this sense, where it can suggest unreliability or lack of logic. Using this sense to describe art or design ("a whimsical painting") sounds wrong or confusing; in that context, the first, more positive sense is used.
Meaning
unpredictable and based on whim
Collocations
whimsical decision
|whimsical behavior
|whimsical choice
|whimsical changes
|whimsical ruling
Synonyms
capricious (Very close in meaning, but more formal and often used in legal or critical contexts.)
|
unpredictable (Focuses on being hard to predict; does not always imply personal whims or lack of reason.)
Antonyms
consistent (Describes behavior or decisions that stay the same over time, not changing with sudden whims.)
|
rational (Emphasizes using reason and logic, the opposite of acting mainly from sudden wishes.)
Themes
behavior
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Changing in an unexpected way because of someone’s sudden wishes, not because of a clear plan or rule.
Likely to change suddenly or act in an unpredictable way, based on personal whim rather than reason or consistent rules.
Grammar
Dictionary form
whimsical
IPA
GB/wˈɪmzɪkəl/
US/wˈɪmzɪkəl/
Syllables & stress
whim - sic - al (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (whim)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: whimsical
Word family
Core family
whim
noun B2
whimsically
adverb
Related words
whimsy
noun
Advanced or less common
whimsicality
noun
Expressions
a whimsical touch
1/ə wˈɪmzɪkəl tˈʌt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
a small playfully odd detail
A small detail that makes something look or feel fun, imaginative, and a little strange in a nice way.
Examples
- The painted clouds on the ceiling add a whimsical touch to the nursery.
- She gave the formal event a whimsical touch by handing out colorful paper crowns.
in a whimsical mood
1/ˈɪn ə wˈɪmzɪkəl mˈud/
fixed phrase
feeling playful and fanciful
Feeling playful, imaginative, and a little strange in a light way, so you want to do fun or unusual things.
Examples
- He was in a whimsical mood and suggested having dinner on the roof under the stars.
- Whenever she is in a whimsical mood, she writes little poems on napkins.
whimsical sense of humor
1/wˈɪmzɪkəl sˈɛns əv hjˈumɚ/
fixed phrase
playfully odd style of humor
A way of being funny that is light, creative, and a bit strange, not cruel or very loud.
Examples
- The show’s success comes from its whimsical sense of humor and gentle characters.
- Her whimsical sense of humor makes even boring meetings more enjoyable.