chimerical

"Chimerical" is a fascinating adjective with essentially one core meaning, but it carries a rich, poetic quality that makes it worth knowing. It comes from the word "chimera" — a mythical creature made of mismatched animal parts — and that origin tells you almost everything about what the word means.

1adjectivewildly unrealistic or imaginary

When something is chimerical, it exists only in the imagination — it sounds appealing or grand, but it has no real chance of happening. Think of it as a dream that is so far from reality that pursuing it would be foolish. Just like the chimera monster was an impossible mix of a lion, goat, and serpent, a chimerical idea is an impossible mix of hope and fantasy.

formal writing, literature, philosophy · Formal, more common in older and literary texts, but still used in serious writing today

His plan to become a billionaire by next year without any savings or business experience was purely chimerical.

The politician's promise of zero taxes and perfect public services struck economists as chimerical.

She eventually let go of her chimerical dream of becoming a famous actress overnight.

2adjectivefigurativeresembling a chimera — made of mismatched or fantastical parts

In a more visual or descriptive sense, chimerical can describe something that looks or feels like a strange, unreal combination of things — almost like a creature or idea from a dream or myth. This sense is closer to the original Greek myth and is often used in art, literature, or descriptions of surreal things.

literature, art, creative writing · Formal, used in literary and artistic contexts · figurative

The artist painted a chimerical landscape where fish swam through clouds and birds walked on the ocean floor.

The old cathedral had chimerical carvings of creatures that were half-human, half-beast.

The fever gave him chimerical visions of impossible worlds.