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Synonym Chooser

How is the word fabulous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of fabulous are apocryphal, fictitious, legendary, and mythical. While all these words mean "having the nature of something imagined or invented," fabulous stresses the marvelous or incredible character of something without necessarily implying impossibility or actual nonexistence.

a land of fabulous riches

When is apocryphal a more appropriate choice than fabulous?

While the synonyms apocryphal and fabulous are close in meaning, apocryphal implies an unknown or dubious source or origin or may imply that the thing itself is dubious or inaccurate.

a book that repeats many apocryphal stories

Where would fictitious be a reasonable alternative to fabulous?

The words fictitious and fabulous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fictitious implies fabrication and suggests artificiality or contrivance more than deliberate falsification or deception.

fictitious characters

When might legendary be a better fit than fabulous?

The meanings of legendary and fabulous largely overlap; however, legendary suggests the elaboration of invented details and distortion of historical facts produced by popular tradition.

the legendary exploits of Davy Crockett

When could mythical be used to replace fabulous?

Although the words mythical and fabulous have much in common, mythical implies a purely fanciful explanation of facts or the creation of beings and events out of the imagination.

mythical creatures

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fabulous Middle Eastern arms dealers, Chinese spies, dictator-friendly London bankers—seeks meaningful, unserious relationship with like-minded but definitely not under-age woman eager to share my fabulous, spectacularly relevant life, also maybe a little massage. George Kalogerakis, airmail.news, 11 Jan. 2025 There are even chic contemporary labels, like The Garment, Rue Sophie, Loulou de Saison, and The Frankie Shop, that offer up fabulous fashion finds under the $300 mark. Laura Jackson, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2025 Best of all, this layered, complex wine with bold fruit notes and savory freshness is $35—a fabulous deal. Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025 The instructions emphasized folks not tripping in their fabulous boots while boarding and on being cool. Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for fabulous 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fabulous
Adjective
  • Away from the bottle-poppers of Mykonos, but hardly removed from the season’s social buzz, the white-washed, flat-roofed villas that wrap the cliffs of Santorini are wonderful places to while away a summer.
    Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 27 Jan. 2025
  • The melty cheese and crispy bread are a wonderful combination.
    Nick Siano, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Here, instead of the mustard that’s included in many classic potato salad recipes, sour cream, vinegar, and briny pickles team up to lend a lovely amount of tartness to cut through the richness of the potatoes, eggs, and mayo.
    Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Declan Rice’s lovely half-volley had set Arsenal on their way to a 3-0 win against Dinamo Zagreb, almost guaranteeing a top-eight finish in the Champions League’s league phase and a bye straight to the round of 16.
    Art de Roché, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • According to the folklore, a mythical beast would come and devour villagers and livestock each Chinese New Year, but the beast was afraid of loud noises and the color red.
    Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Jan. 2025
  • Villagers dressed as cranes, roosters and mythical lions pose for portraits standing amid crops or in fallow farmland.
    Oscar Holland, CNN, 28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The tip is $21,000, which is nice but not amazing, especially given all the dietary restrictions.
    Emma Soren, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Available for an amazing 71% off today, the Jabra Elite 85t earbuds deliver quality audio, solid noise cancelation, and a beautiful design.
    Gabriela Vatu, PCMAG, 28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Given the clandestine nature of the process, the true number of fictitious sons who arrived during exclusion will never be known.
    Jane Hu, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Detectives also found that Labelle allegedly altered several documents and provided the homeowner with fictitious receipts to deceive them, according to Riley.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Just what is an excellent choice to protect your Mac?
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Kansas City’s secondary is also excellent at tackling and does a good job of limiting explosive runs.
    Ted Nguyen, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Since taking over the legendary concept store in 2020 from founder Carla Sozzani, Fausti has continued to integrate new names into its product offering, in addition to renovating and revamping the space and staging a rich schedule of events and exhibitions.
    Sandra Salibian, WWD, 24 Jan. 2025
  • The Chiefs beat the Bills 42-36 in overtime in the Divisional Round a couple of years ago in one of the most legendary playoff games in recent memory.
    Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • If a planet is visible from the night side of Earth, it can only ever be seen along an imaginary path through the sky called the ecliptic.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Monday’s victory was only a month and a week removed from one of the more embarrassing losses of the Knicks season, an NBA Cup quarterfinal loss Young punctuated by rolling a set of imaginary die on The Garden’s center-court logo.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near fabulous

Cite this Entry

“Fabulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fabulous. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fabulous

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