whimsey
Lighthearted fanciful notion
Whimsey is a variant spelling of whimsy—playful or fanciful quality, or a quaint or odd notion.
The spelling with -ey is less common but appears in older texts and British usage: The garden was full of Victorian whimsey.
Both spellings work as nouns meaning a caprice or an object of fanciful design.
Imaginatively unrealistic
- capriciousSubject to sudden changes
- playfulInclined toward fun
- whimsicalPlayfully fanciful or erratic
- imaginativeAble to conceive new ideas
fantastical · flight of fancy · notion · caprice · conceit · vagary · daydream · reverie
Peculiar behavioral trait
- peculiarityUnusual distinguishing characteristic
- idiosyncrasyDistinctive personal peculiarity
- odditySomething unusual or unexpected
- quaintnessCharming old-fashioned quality
unconventionality · originality · kookiness · drollery · crotchet · singularity · curiosity · novelty
Erratic, unpredictable behavior
- mercurialProne to sudden change
- ficklenessLack of steadfast devotion
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- inconstantProne to fluctuation
changeable · volatile · arbitrary · wayward · flighty · spontaneous · impromptu · unplanned
Thing that beautifies
- curioOdd collectible item
- trinketSmall worthless ornament
- baubleShowy, worthless ornament
- knickknackSmall decorative object
bric-a-brac · gewgaw · tchotchke · figurine · novelty item · collectible · keepsake · objet d'art
fanciful
Imaginatively unrealistic
- capriciousSubject to sudden changes
- playfulInclined toward fun
- whimsicalPlayfully fanciful or erratic
imaginative · fantastical · flight of fancy · notion · caprice · conceit · vagary · daydream · reverie · make-believe
quirk
Peculiar behavioral trait
- peculiarityUnusual distinguishing characteristic
- idiosyncrasyDistinctive personal peculiarity
- odditySomething unusual or unexpected
quaintness · unconventionality · originality · kookiness · drollery · crotchet · singularity · curiosity · novelty · strangeness
capriciousness
Erratic, unpredictable behavior
- mercurialProne to sudden change
- ficklenessLack of steadfast devotion
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
inconstant · changeable · volatile · arbitrary · wayward · flighty · spontaneous · impromptu · unplanned · serendipity
ornament
Thing that beautifies
knickknack · bric-a-brac · gewgaw · tchotchke · figurine · novelty item · collectible · keepsake · objet d'art · gimcrack
whimseyseriousness
Earnest, weighty demeanor
gravity · solemnity · earnestness · grimness · gravitas
whimseypracticality
Quality of being useful
pragmatism · matter-of-factness · logic · rationality · methodicalness