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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 Seeing something like that in the world where people can experience it for more than an 11-week run would be fantastic. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 29 Jan. 2025 Nara's addition of the raspberry compote was fantastic. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2025 Presently, its reemergence is rooted in freedom from particular styles and an embrace of the fantastic—a nod to the trailblazing creatives of yore with a contemporary twist. Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 28 Jan. 2025 This orange cultivar’s fantastic red hue always catches people’s eyes by surprise. Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 28 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
  • Ukraine is a fictional state...the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.
    Maya Mehrara, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
  • The movie, while fictional, depicted a situation that the United Nations estimates has ensnared hundreds of thousands of people in real life.
    Monica Pitrelli, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The couple were incredible parents who created a loving home for their two children, the cousins said.
    Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 31 Jan. 2025
  • Despite the incredible work that new festival heads Eugene Hernandez and Kim Yutani have done to preserve Sundance’s vitality while steeling it against the future, that brand has only been further reinforced over the last few years.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The melty cheese and crispy bread are a wonderful combination.
    Nick Siano, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Jan. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • Even as the conspiracists grew more and more fanciful, wellness was always a pivotal part of their message.
    Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 31 Jan. 2025
  • The firm was started 150 years ago by Charles Fournier, a decorator who specialised in decorative painting and gilding and who rose to the fore during the Belle Époque, creating fanciful boiserie decor in ornate neo-18th-century style.
    Sofia Celeste, WWD, 30 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
  • Both teams are excellent at converting third downs.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Just what is an excellent choice to protect your Mac?
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 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 4 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fantastic

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