chimera

noun/kɪˈmɪrə/

Frequency rank: #14,983 most common English word

Meaning

Something that is hoped for but is illusory or impossible to achieve; also, a mythological fire-breathing monster.

Illustration for the English word “chimera”

Example sentence

The scientist warned that the perfect cure might be nothing more than chimera that researchers have been chasing for decades.

Synonyms & related words

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