Chimerical: meaning, definitions and examples

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chimerical

 

[ kɪˈmɛrɪkəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

imaginative concept

Chimerical refers to something that is wildly fanciful or imaginative, often to the point of being unrealistic or impossible. It is used to describe things that exist only in dreams or fantasies, making them unattainable in reality.

Synonyms

dreamlike, fantastical, illusory, mythical.

Examples of usage

  • Her chimerical plans for a perfect utopia were met with skepticism.
  • The scientist's chimerical ideas about time travel sparked much debate.
  • His chimerical vision of a world without borders seemed naïve.
Context #2 | Adjective

impossible ideals

Chimerical can also describe something that is formed from various parts or ideas, often implying a lack of cohesion or reality. This usage emphasizes the deceptive nature of such constructs.

Synonyms

abstract, incoherent, unrealistic.

Examples of usage

  • Her political platform was a chimerical mixture of conflicting ideas.
  • The project was criticized for being a chimerical fantasy rather than a feasible plan.
  • His chimerical artwork combined elements from different cultures in an incoherent way.

Translations

Translations of the word "chimerical" in other languages:

🇵🇹 quimérico

🇮🇳 कल्पनाशील

🇩🇪 chimerisch

🇮🇩 khayalan

🇺🇦 химерний

🇵🇱 chimeralny

🇯🇵 幻想的な

🇫🇷 chimérique

🇪🇸 quimérico

🇹🇷 hayali

🇰🇷 환상적인

🇸🇦 خيالي

🇨🇿 chimérický

🇸🇰 chimerický

🇨🇳 虚构的

🇸🇮 kimeričen

🇮🇸 kímrískur

🇰🇿 химерлі

🇬🇪 ხიმერული

🇦🇿 ximerik

🇲🇽 quimérico

Etymology

The word 'chimerical' originates from the Greek word 'Chimaira', which refers to a mythical creature that was part lion, part goat, and part serpent. This creature represented the idea of combining various disparate elements into one being, embodying the concept of the fantastical and the impossible. The term began to appear in English in the late 16th century, evolving to denote anything that is imaginative or illusory. Over time, 'chimerical' has come to describe not only fantastical creatures but also ideas, plans, or theories that lack a basis in reality, capturing the essence of imagination and absurdity in human thought.