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Synonym Chooser

How is the word fantastic different from other adjectives like it?

The words bizarre and grotesque are common synonyms of fantastic. While all three words mean "conceived, made, or carried out without adherence to truth or reality," fantastic may connote extravagance in conception or ingenuity of decorative invention.

dreamed up fantastic rumors

When is it sensible to use bizarre instead of fantastic?

The meanings of bizarre and fantastic largely overlap; however, bizarre applies to the sensationally strange and implies violence of contrast or incongruity of combination.

a bizarre medieval castle in the heart of a modern city

Where would grotesque be a reasonable alternative to fantastic?

Although the words grotesque and fantastic have much in common, grotesque may apply to what is conventionally ugly but artistically effective or it may connote ludicrous awkwardness or incongruity often with sinister or tragic overtones.

grotesque statues on the cathedral
though grieving, she made a grotesque attempt at a smile

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 fantastic Esse is fantastic in one-on-one situations, which will offer Munoz opportunities to get forward into better goalscoring and crossing positions. Anantaajith Raghuraman, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025 The relationship between Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw (one of my all-time favorite actors) is fantastic and the thriller aspect of the show kept me on the edge of my seat. Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025 The casting is fantastic, with Jude Law in particular giving us one of the best Star Wars characters in years, and the child actors are phenomenal, as well, particularly the scene-stealing Neel (Robert Timothy Smith). Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2025 They are joined by a fantastic supporting ensemble made up of Will Sharpe, Daniel Oreskes, Liza Sadovy, Kurt Egyiawan, Jennifer Grey, and Ellora Torchia. Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for fantastic 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fantastic
Adjective
  • Does that explain his bizarre excursion to allow Arnaut Danjuma to score?
    Greg O'Keeffe, The Athletic, 30 Jan. 2025
  • Archaeologists have uncovered a series of bizarre ancient burials in France.
    Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • In his office, Berg used an ice axe to pitch Smith on a collaboration, which would eventually follow a fictional frontiersman and mother-son duo navigating the Westward expansion.
    Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Jan. 2025
  • The duo first shared the screen in 1999's Any Given Sunday, which follows a fictional professional football team.
    Nicholas Rice, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Inside her was the growing awareness that Sebastien had only been writing her, Dani, out of a sense of duty, all the while hotly suffering a much more grownup correspondence with the incredible Yvonne.
    Sheila Heti, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2025
  • The Iowa product laid out and brought in an incredible one-handed grab for the score to put Detroit in front 14-10.
    Kevin Dotson, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
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
  • Also lost were performance posters, a bust of Schoenberg and ephemera such as the fanciful playing card sets the composer designed.
    Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Dress up dapper because moody Francis Hall is sophisticated, intimate and crafting fanciful sips. KILN Location: Hotel Heron: 699 Prince St, Alexandria, VA 22314 For Saturday dinner, visit KILN, which just so happens to be the ground-floor restaurant at the hotel.
    Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • And for any thrill seekers with aviation experience, a trike flight offers truly marvelous views of Los Llanos, allowing guests to soar above the plains and scan the landscapes for native species.
    Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Cooking Soy Sauce Noodles With Cabbage and Fried Eggs Jan. 29, 2023 Thursday Alexa Weibel developed this marvelous recipe for a creamy white bean soup with spicy paprika oil.
    Sam Sifton, New York Times, 19 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
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

Thesaurus Entries Near fantastic

Cite this Entry

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

More from Merriam-Webster on fantastic

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