apocryphal

Synonym Chooser

How is the word apocryphal distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of apocryphal are fabulous, fictitious, legendary, and mythical. While all these words mean "having the nature of something imagined or invented," 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

When is fabulous a more appropriate choice than apocryphal?

In some situations, the words fabulous and apocryphal are roughly equivalent. However, fabulous stresses the marvelous or incredible character of something without necessarily implying impossibility or actual nonexistence.

a land of fabulous riches

When can fictitious be used instead of apocryphal?

The synonyms fictitious and apocryphal are sometimes interchangeable, but fictitious implies fabrication and suggests artificiality or contrivance more than deliberate falsification or deception.

fictitious characters

Where would legendary be a reasonable alternative to apocryphal?

The words legendary and apocryphal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, legendary suggests the elaboration of invented details and distortion of historical facts produced by popular tradition.

the legendary exploits of Davy Crockett

In what contexts can mythical take the place of apocryphal?

The meanings of mythical and apocryphal largely overlap; however, 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 apocryphal Whether or not apocryphal rains be in the heavenly cards, twos are best reserved for book ends and bicycles wheels. Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025 An apocryphal story has George Washington breakfasting with Thomas Jefferson and referring to the Senate as a saucer intended to cool the passions of the intemperate lower chamber. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2025 And there were apocryphal stories of women living in dread of their menfolk coming back if their team had lost. Stuart James, New York Times, 7 June 2025 Inspired by the apocryphal Infancy Gospel of Thomas, The Carpenter’s Son tells the dark story of a family hiding out in Roman Egypt. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for apocryphal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apocryphal
Adjective
  • This quiz invites you to journey through the golden age of literary sci-fi, where philosophical depth meets speculative wonder.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Kaluza’s solution, subsequently reused down the line by many others, was to take a speculative leap into the fifth dimension, allowing general relativity and electromagnetism to be unified together in what would become known as Kaluza-Klein theory.
    Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Inaccurate debunks Amid the recycled imagery, authentic pictures of National Guard members sleeping on the floor of a federal building in Los Angeles this week were falsely described as old or unauthentic.
    Emma Li, CBS News, 11 June 2025
  • Both games made changes to the core formula that longtime players didn't appreciate, such as an influx of unauthentic skins and a departure from the class system.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Based on the state’s 2019 study, the county would likely have valued this hypothetical home around 92% of its market value.
    Madeline King, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025
  • And that fear isn’t hypothetical.
    David Rodriguez Muñoz, Freep.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • According to a criminal complaint, Briceno, whom authorities said is an undocumented immigrant, used a firearm to shoot inside the doorway of the bar and then discarded the firearm, which law enforcement never recovered.
    Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Fernandes Anderson was the first Muslim-American, African immigrant and formerly undocumented person to be elected to the Boston City Council.
    Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This one was about seizing one of the sweetest victories of his legendary career … whether the old quarterback wanted to admit it or not.
    Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Busta Rhymes proved his legendary hip hop status during his set at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.
    Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • And many additional ideas in theoretical physics seek to add in additional symmetries, additional dimensions, additional extra particles, or additional unification frameworks.
    Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 9 Sep. 2025
  • If not, these elements of Musk’s project are likely to remain more theoretical, just as the dreams of last century’s techno-utopians did.
    Sonja Fritzsche, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • There are some exceptions to this mode of fanciful speculation.
    Kate Wagner, Curbed, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Despite the fanciful name, though, the structures are actually tombs.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Over at Metropolitan State University, the on-campus gallery is presenting works from five Twin Cities Latino artists working across paintings, puppetry, photography and more focused on bestiarios, or fantastical, mythical beasts.
    Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Renewal Through Setback Erik Marthon Olsen of Laerdal Invest chose the phoenix, the mythical bird that rises from its own ashes.
    Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Apocryphal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apocryphal. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

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