Definition of fabulousnext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word fabulous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of fabulous are apocryphal, fictitious, legendary, and mythical. While all these words mean "having the nature of something imagined or invented," fabulous stresses the marvelous or incredible character of something without necessarily implying impossibility or actual nonexistence.

a land of fabulous riches

When is apocryphal a more appropriate choice than fabulous?

While the synonyms apocryphal and fabulous are close in meaning, 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

Where would fictitious be a reasonable alternative to fabulous?

The words fictitious and fabulous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fictitious implies fabrication and suggests artificiality or contrivance more than deliberate falsification or deception.

fictitious characters

When might legendary be a better fit than fabulous?

The meanings of legendary and fabulous largely overlap; however, legendary suggests the elaboration of invented details and distortion of historical facts produced by popular tradition.

the legendary exploits of Davy Crockett

When could mythical be used to replace fabulous?

Although the words mythical and fabulous have much in common, 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 fabulous The best picks for spring and summer feel as light as air and look just as fabulous, but are still substantial enough not to be see-through. Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 5 May 2026 Faber was fabulous in the first round against the Dallas Stars. Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 4 May 2026 Downtown offers fabulous hotels and inventive restaurants, while Butchertown and Germantown pair up-and-coming bars and businesses with impressive vintage architecture. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026 So what would bring Andy, Emily, Miranda and Nigel back together in New York, decked out in fabulous clothes? Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fabulous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fabulous
Adjective
  • Canton High School athletic director Danny Erickson announced in a blog post Thursday that legendary boys hockey coach Brian Shuman has decided to retire.
    Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 8 May 2026
  • London celebrated David Attenborough’s centenary on Friday, with the highlight being a special BBC broadcast evening event at the Royal Albert Hall in the British capital dedicated to the work of the legendary English broadcaster, natural historian and conservationist.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
Adjective
  • There is great teaching going on, the principal is wonderful.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Claire has been an advocate for courageous stories, an expert at complicated logistics and a wonderful partner to teams across the entire news division.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The novel follows an elderly British couple, Axl and Beatrice, living in a fictional post-Arthurian England in which no one is able to retain long-term memories.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 May 2026
  • The actor couldn’t have been further from the halls of a fictional hospital.
    Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026
Adjective
  • The Otesaga Resort Hotel Cooperstown, New York If a pilgrimage to the National Baseball Hall of Fame is on your family vacation bucket list, combine your visit with a stay at The Otesaga Resort Hotel for a lovely lakeside getaway.
    Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 6 May 2026
  • Completing the triptych is the story of yet another student in 1972, the shy Hannes (Enzo Brumm), who hopes to study poetry but is soon taken with the lovely Gundula (Marlene Burow), who is researching the neural responses of the geranium on her windowsill.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 May 2026
Adjective
  • Their stories live on in Sardinian lore with an almost mythical quality, the brigands admired for their intractability.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026
  • Komodo dragons were nearly mythical creatures until the first detailed field study was conducted by Walter Auffenberg in the late 1960s.
    Craig Stanford, Big Think, 7 May 2026
Adjective
  • The entire complement of ingredients and cooking apparatuses to prepare the full menu occupies a mere 6 square feet—absolutely amazing.
    George Motz, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
  • The princess has done an amazing job at activating people's minds about the value and importance of this.
    Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
Adjective
  • To find Hydra, first locate the bright stars Chertan and Regulus in the constellation Leo and draw an imaginary line from the former to the latter, extending 20 degrees into open space.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 May 2026
  • Artists in the 18th century would often include a person of color, who would sometimes be imaginary, in their portraits of wealthy white sitters to embellish the painting and highlight the high status of the main subject, according to the researchers.
    Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 8 May 2026
Adjective
  • Conversations around excellent kebabs in Southern California tend to begin with the Martirosyan family and their Mini Kabob in Glendale.
    Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
  • The lighting, art design and score are all excellent – and the single shot construction gives the film a dreamy, meditative quality.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fabulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fabulous. Accessed 11 May. 2026.

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