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Trace Whimsical Back to the 16th Century
Even the origin of whimsical is whimsical: its ultimate source (by way of the noun whimsy) is the now-obscure whim-wham, a noun from the early 16th century that first referred to an ornamental object or trinket, and later to an eccentric impulse or interest—that is, to what in modern terms can be called a whim. The origin of whim-wham isn’t clear, but it’s among a class of words known as reduplications, words that are formed by repeating a word, as in go-go, or by adding to a word one that sounds very similar to it, as in dillydally. (In the case of whim-wham, the original duplicated term has been lost to time.) While whimsical first described those who tend toward whimsy, it now commonly describes things that are unusual in a playful or amusing way, as in “charmed by the book’s whimsical illustrations.”
Examples of whimsical in a Sentence
Janice Wald Henderson, Chocolatier, March 2001
Unlike the broad slapstick humor of Musical Mose and other early Herriman strips, Krazy Kat was gentle, fey, and whimsical.
—Jeet Heer, Lingua Franca, September 2001
In the whimsical linguistics of theoretical physics, the "naked" electron is an imaginary object cut off from the influences of the field, whereas a "dressed" electron carries the imprint of the universe, but it is all buried in extremely tiny modifications to its bare properties.
—Leon Lederman et al., The God Particle, 1993
She has a whimsical sense of humor.
it's hard to make plans with such a whimsical best friend
Thomas Waller, WWD, 6 Mar. 2025
At first glance, however, Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, with its whimsical magic and fantastical elements, is an unlikely fit for Soviet children’s literature, which favored themes of hard work and collective struggle over wish fulfillment and enchantment.
—Christin Bohnke, JSTOR Daily, 5 Mar. 2025
Amos hopes readers of all ages can tap into the power of creative play with Tori and the Muses, especially adults who have lost touch with their whimsical sides.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
Both its upper and lower outdoor dining decks are filled with blooming flowers and hanging ferns, creating the most whimsical ambiance for a meal.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whimsical
Cite this Entry
“Whimsical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whimsical. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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whimsical
adjective
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