fantasticism

fantasticism

A painter's work is full of fantasticism and dreamlike creatures.

Definition

Noun (uncountable): - The quality or state of being fantastic: "fantasticism" refers to a tendency toward or embodiment of the bizarre, grotesque, or highly imaginative, often in a way that is extravagant or unrealistic. It emphasizes the unusual, fanciful, or eccentric aspects of something, such as art, literature, or behavior.

Usage Examples
  • (The art shows a strong tendency toward the bizarre and imaginative.)
  • (His use of extravagant imagination made the story fascinating but unrealistic.)
  • (The unusual and fanciful elements were highlighted.)
Advanced Usage

  • "to indulge in fantasticism": to allow oneself to be carried away by extravagant imagination or eccentric ideas.

    • The poet often indulged in fantasticism, writing about flying cities and golden rivers. (He freely used bizarre, imaginative themes.)

  • "a work of pure fantasticism": a piece of art or literature that is entirely composed of fanciful or grotesque elements.

    • The film was a work of pure fantasticism, with no attempt at realism. (It was entirely imaginative and unrealistic.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Fantastic (adj): extraordinarily imaginative or fanciful; also meaning excellent or very good.
    • She told a fantastic story about her travels. (An extraordinary, imaginative story.)
  • Fantastical (adj): of or relating to fantasy; fanciful or unreal.
    • The painting had a fantastical quality, full of mythical creatures. (It was fanciful and dreamlike.)
  • Fantasy (n): imagination, especially of a free and extravagant kind; a product of such imagination.
    • His fantasy of becoming a dragon rider was pure fantasticism. (The imaginative idea was an example of fantasticism.)
Synonyms
  • Bizarreness: the quality of being strange or unusual.
  • Grotesquerie: the quality of being distorted, ugly, or bizarre.
  • Extravagance: lack of restraint in imagination or expression.
  • Fancifulness: the quality of being imaginative or unrealistic.
Related Idioms
  • "a flight of fancy": an idea or statement that is very imaginative but not practical or realistic.
    • His plan to build a castle in the clouds was just a flight of fancy, typical of his fantasticism. (It was an unrealistic, imaginative idea.)
  • "beyond the pale": outside the bounds of acceptable behavior or thought; often used for extreme fantasticism.
    • The author’s fantasticism went beyond the pale, describing events that defied all logic. (It was excessively bizarre.)