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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

Examples 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 Flag football The stage is set for a fantastic inaugural Southern Section Division 1 championship game in girls’ flag football between Orange Lutheran and Newport Harbor on Saturday. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024 If there was enough going on that our fantastic PR people were able to get those three people in the theatre to say hello to us, something in the sauce was working. Jeff Conway, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 How To Make Beet Salad This beet salad is a fantastic no-cook side dish for dinner or a holiday meal. Julia Levy, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2024 For those looking for a more professional-level leaf blower, this model is a fantastic choice. Sandi Schwartz, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fantastic 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fantastic
Adjective
  • By Samantha Riedel Sarah McBride Will Officially Be the First Trans Member of U.S. Congress By Nico Lang Amid a packed schedule of eclectic, bizarre, and hilarious series on the Dropout streaming service, Very Important People has already established itself as one of the platform’s finest.
    Samantha Allen, Them, 20 Nov. 2024
  • Karin is not your typical sweet anime girl, and the narrative is bizarre, unexpected and hilarious.
    Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Set in a fictional North Carolina town, One Tree Hill followed two half-brothers, Lucas (Murray) and Nathan (Lafferty), who are forced to navigate high school and social circles despite having a strained relationship.
    Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2024
  • At the beginning of Gladiator II, he is forced to return to Rome after an army led by the fictional general Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) invades Numidia, kills Lucius’ wife and son, and sells him into slavery as a gladiator.
    Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • High-end options feature intense realism, including flocked finishes and incredible body detail.
    Alice Jones Webb, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
  • Before the snow flies weekly in western mountain towns, these crisp cold days can lead to incredible riding conditions—morning frost and just enough sun often give way to silky smooth hero dirt.
    Lily Ritter, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • In a testament to the power of libraries creating a sense of community through programs, a patron shared a wonderful anecdote recently with our youth services librarian, Melissa Burke.
    Barbara D. Hathaway, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
  • It’s got wonderful culture, interesting history, amazing attractions and businesses.
    Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • In this rosy way of thinking, Trump won’t ever stand for election again and has a legacy to consider — a fanciful notion that is plainly a triumph of hope over experience.
    Mark Z. Barabak, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • With a cartoon aesthetic only the early Space Age could deliver, the fanciful four-wheeler was not fully appreciated in its time.
    Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • There’s perhaps nowhere that native wildflowers put on a more marvelous display than at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, southwest of downtown Austin.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024
  • The traveler is often captive to the slow-moving, and the marvelous, and the memorable, in strangeness.
    Paul Theroux, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • And the exasperation goes from imaginary frustration to real annoyance.
    Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 18 Nov. 2024
  • And through her mesmerizing filmmaking, Kapadia creates a world that didn’t seem possible — which, of course, reinforces how imaginary this new place might prove to be.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The Beats Studio Pro headphones deliver premium sound quality, excellent noise cancellation, and a sleek, durable design.
    Juhi Wadia, PCMAG, 16 Nov. 2024
  • Later in the day, someone older or more experienced might have excellent advice for you.
    Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 14 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near fantastic

Cite this Entry

“Fantastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fantastic. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on fantastic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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