fantastic

1 of 2

adjective

fan·tas·tic fan-ˈta-stik

fən-

variants or less commonly fantastical

fan-ˈta-sti-kəl

Synonyms of fantastic next

: based on fantasy (see fantasy entry 1 sense 2) : not real

: conceived or seemingly conceived by unrestrained fancy

fantastic new space and nuclear weapons—

Jack Raymond

: so extreme as to challenge belief : unbelievable

a fantastic industrial complex of steel, coal, machine tools, and other heavy industries—

M. S. Handler

broadly : exceedingly large or great

spent fantastic sums on his library

: marked by extravagant fantasy or extreme individuality : eccentric

fantastic works of art

fantastic : excellent, superlative

a fantastic meal

fantasticality

(ˌ)fan-ˌta-stə-ˈka-lə-tē

fən-

noun

fantasticalness

fan-ˈta-stə-kəl-nəs

noun

fantastic

2 of 2

noun

: eccentric sense 1

Choose the Right Synonym for fantastic

fantastic, bizarre, grotesque 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

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

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

synonyms see in addition imaginary

Example Sentences

Adjective The train runs at fantastic speeds. a fantastic scheme for getting rich quick

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The 24-hour eatery Cadillac Diner serves a fantastic loco moco, a classic Hawaiian plate lunch. —

Lori A. May, Chron, 19 Mar. 2023 So Portland animators celebrating their Oscar win are also cheering the fresh appreciation for their art, which blends real puppets and fantastic settings to create images that look like nothing else on screen. —

Mike Rogoway | Mrogoway@oregonian.com, oregonlive, 19 Mar. 2023 Get a load of this one: This starting rotation might just be fantastic. —

Evan Grant, Dallas News, 17 Mar. 2023 There are literally thousands of fantastic PC titles on offer right now, from AAA mainstays like Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (now $33.49) to surprise indie hits like Vampire Survivors (now $3.99) and Stray ($23.99). —

Brandon Widder, The Verge, 17 Mar. 2023 For a stronger Sichuan peppercorn taste, Fly by Jing Mala spice blend is equally fantastic on basically whatever. —

Zoe Dubno, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2023 The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N isn't ready quite yet, but what's already done is fantastic. —

Car and Driver, 16 Mar. 2023 The doctors and nurses and staff who cared for me were fantastic. —

Meredith Broussard, WIRED, 15 Mar. 2023 If the deal comes through today and access to funding is open tomorrow, that's fantastic. —

CBS News, 12 Mar. 2023

Noun

Among the fire fights, there's mystery, mischief, and even a few stand alone anthology seasons — like season eight: Dreamland — that are down-right fantastic. —

Melissa Sherrard, EW.com, 6 Jan. 2023 But the reading of Ti’s last wishes sets Josie on a journey to learn her mother’s history, to encounter the fantastic, to discover herself and her own power — and to fight. —

Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2022 However, guest pianist Linda Gentille and Assistant Cruise Director Richard Rubin’s shows were over-the-top fantastic. —

Debbi Kickham, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2022 After a banner 2021 for high-end genre films, industry vets are hopeful that the fantastic can resurrect the corpse of pre-COVID theatrical distribution. —

Jamie Lang, Variety, 12 Feb. 2022 With more modern styling inside and out as well as the familiar fantastic-to-drive behavior, the reborn Golf GTI attracts new enthusiasts, continues to reward the faithful, and again makes our 10Best and Editors' Choice lists. —

Car and Driver, 4 Feb. 2022 Camille and Mindy want to go to this fantastic-sounding house party. —

Jessica Goldstein, Vulture, 22 Dec. 2021 The galactic fantastic without human anguish: kid stuff. —

New York Times, 12 Oct. 2021 This installation gestures more toward the fantastic with a few hints of flight. —

New York Times, 17 Nov. 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fantastic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

fantastic going back to Middle English fantastik "of imagination as a faculty, produced by the imagination, not real, unfounded, false, supernatural," borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French fantastique, borrowed from Late Latin phantasticus "of the imagination, deceptive, imaginary," borrowed from Greek phantastikós "able to produce the appearance of something, resulting from the imagination," from phantast- (stem in nominal derivation corresponding to phantasía "appearance, image, imagination" and phantázein "to make visible, present to the eye or mind, (middle voice) place before one's mind, imagine") + -ikos -ic entry 1; fantastical going back to Middle English fantasticalle, from fantastik + -alle -al entry 1 — more at fantasy entry 1