chimera

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'chimera' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a noun that means an illusion or fabrication of the mind, especially one that is fearfully superimposed on reality. For example, you could use the sentence: "She was frightened by the chimera of a monster under her bed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the light of the DUP's stunning triumph last week, that hope was yet another chimera of naive constitutional nationalism.

The Guardian

You seem prepared to put it all at risk for a chimera.

The Guardian - Opinion

The cacophony of demands for actual ideas is just a chimera created by the paradigm of elitism to ensure the survival of the status quo to derail didactic cogitations about reality!

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And yet in the middle of all this, it is worth remembering that within this World Cup cycle English cricket has produced at least one fine, fit-for-purpose 50-over team, a desert chimera long since erased by three years of white knuckle mismanagement.

The Guardian - Sport

And his lieutenants, Jeff Skilling, briefly chief executive, and Andrew Fastow, chief financial officer, were seen as masterminds who understood that the best way to make money in the energy business was to trade the stuff, not to drill for it.But it now appears that the phenomenal success of Enron was a chimera.

The Economist

Girl power, it seems, never had it so good.Is this wave of affluence a chimera or does it have solid underpinnings?

The Economist

The first would have prohibited experiments involving "chimera" embryos created by placing human DNA inside empty eggs from other mammals.

The Economist

One way people often describe the American chimera is to call it a cross between northern Europe and Latin America.That's the framework Jonathan Cohn used in his piece in the New Repubiic earlier this month, "Blue States are from Scandinavia, Red States are from Guatemala".

The Economist

The export-led growth which drove a six-year recovery after 2002 has proved a chimera.

The Economist

To try to restore the privacy that was universal in the 1970s is to chase a chimera.

The Economist

Here he provides a social commentary from the ground up, as an exhausted and despairing people picked their way through the rubble.As the author notes, the euphoria of the first year of Japan's war in the Pacific turned into a chimera, a dream within a dream, when the tide of its military advance petered out and news of the bloody retreat leaked out back home.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "chimera" to describe a concept, ensure the context clearly indicates whether you're referring to its traditional meaning (a monstrous hybrid) or its broader sense (an illusion or unattainable goal).

Common error

Avoid using "chimera" in purely biological contexts unless the organism truly exhibits mixed genetic origins. Otherwise, stick to terms like "hybrid" or "crossbreed" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The word "chimera" functions primarily as a noun, denoting either a fantastical creature of mixed origins or something hoped or wished for but in fact illusory or impossible to achieve. Ludwig examples demonstrate both usages across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "chimera" is a multifaceted term with roots in mythology and modern applications in science and general language. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used. It can refer to a monstrous hybrid or an unattainable illusion, often appearing in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. When writing, ensure the intended meaning is clear, avoiding confusion between its biological and metaphorical applications. While "illusion" and "fantasy" offer alternative ways to express unreality, "chimera" carries a unique weight suggesting both impossibility and composite nature.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

illusion

Focuses on the deceptive appearance rather than the composite nature.

delusion

Implies a false belief held despite evidence to the contrary.

fabrication

Highlights the artificial or constructed nature of something unreal.

fantasy

Emphasizes the imaginative and often unrealistic quality.

figment of imagination

Directly refers to something created by the mind, lacking a real basis.

pipe dream

Suggests an unrealistic or unattainable hope or plan.

myth

Focuses on a traditional story, often involving supernatural beings or events.

hybrid

Emphasizes the combination of different elements, particularly in a biological context.

composite creature

Highlights the combination of different animal parts.

monstrosity

Implies something unnaturally or repulsively formed.

FAQs

How is "chimera" used in scientific contexts?

In science, a "chimera" refers to an organism containing cells from different genetic origins. This can occur naturally or be created artificially for research purposes. Examples include studies involving "human-animal chimeras".

What does "chimera" mean in mythology?

In Greek mythology, the "chimera" was a fire-breathing monster with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a serpent. This mythical creature represents a combination of disparate elements.

Can "illusion" be used interchangeably with "chimera"?

While both terms relate to something unreal, "chimera" often implies a more complex or fantastical illusion, whereas "illusion" can refer to any deceptive appearance or false impression. Consider using "figment of imagination" instead of "chimera".

Is "chimera" always negative in connotation?

Not necessarily. While the mythical chimera was a fearsome beast, the term can also describe something that is merely unreal or unattainable without carrying a negative judgment. For example, "pipe dream" might be a more suitable alternative for an unattainable goal.