fantastical

/fænˈtæs.tɪ.kəl/ (bre, ipa) · /fænˈtæs.tɪ.kəl/ (ame, ipa)

fantastical — adjective

  • fantasticalpositive
  • more fantasticalcomparative
  • most fantasticalsuperlative

1. having an odd, dreamlike quality that makes you think of magical worlds, fairy t

1.形容詞C1
釋義

having an odd, dreamlike quality that makes you think of magical worlds, fairy tales, or other things that do not exist in real life.

例句

Antonia drew a fantastical garden full of glowing trees and small flying foxes.

fantastical + noun (imaginary scene)

The novel takes place in a fantastical kingdom ruled by talking lions.

fantastical kingdom (fantasy-world setting)

同義詞
  • fanciful

    more about clever imagination than magical atmosphere

  • magical

    focuses on the wonder felt, often softer in tone

  • otherworldly

    stresses 'not of this world'; can sound spiritual

反義詞

文法句型

fantastical + noun (creature, world, costume)

用法筆記

Almost always attributive (before the noun), not after 'be'. Typical nouns: world, creature, kingdom, beast, costume, journey, scene. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense describes something imaginative or dreamlike, not something the speaker doubts is true.

常見錯誤

❌The garden was very fantastical.
✅The garden looked like something out of a fantastical story.
💡this sense rarely sits after 'be'; put it before a concrete noun like 'world', 'creature', or 'scene'.
❌I had a fantastical meal at the new restaurant.
✅I had a fantastic meal at the new restaurant.
💡'fantastical' means dreamlike or imaginary; for 'really good', use 'fantastic'.

2. going so far beyond what is normal or sensible that listeners find it hard to ta

2.形容詞C1
釋義

going so far beyond what is normal or sensible that listeners find it hard to take seriously.

例句

The minister rejected the fantastical claim that taxes would fall to zero next year.

fantastical claim (dismissive of an idea)

Joshua proposed a fantastical plan to cross the desert on a bicycle in two days.

fantastical plan (unrealistic scheme)

同義詞
  • outlandish

    stresses how strange the idea is, less about disbelief

  • absurd

    stresses that it makes no logical sense

  • preposterous

    more formal; strong tone of mockery

反義詞
  • plausible

    sounds possible and worth considering

  • credible

    believable based on evidence or experience

文法句型

fantastical + noun (claim, idea, scheme, story)

sound / seem fantastical

用法筆記

Often used to dismiss or mock a claim, plan, or story as wildly unrealistic. Typical objects: claim, plan, scheme, idea, story, price, promise. Distinguish from sense 1: here the focus is on disbelief, not on magical atmosphere.

常見錯誤

❌The result of the test was fantastical.
✅The result of the test was fantastic.
💡'fantastical' implies the speaker does not believe it; for praise, use 'fantastic'.
❌A fantastical amount of people came to the concert.
✅A huge number of people came to the concert.
💡'fantastical' is not a neutral intensifier for size; use 'huge', 'enormous', or 'incredible' instead.