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 When the picture on the far left was made, the fabulous George Herman Ruth, an orphan, was making $80,000 a year knocking home runs for the New York Yankees. Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026 The sleek, suede Palermo Sneakers perfectly capture that appeal, with a fabulous range of color combinations, including this cadmium red and bubblegum pairing and a navy and ballet pink option. Annie Blackman, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026 Perhaps because even Waldo Waterman’s fabulous 1937 Aerobile couldn’t reliably get off the ground. Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026 There are also more complicated emotions, like jealousy, that fabulous women are allowed to express more fully. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fabulous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fabulous
Adjective
  • This space used to be their home, where so many legendary moments took place, scenes that are replayed over and over on game days inside Yankee Stadium, the history of the team so essential to its appeal.
    Sam Blum, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Tour the buildings designed by legendary Glaswegian architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh—the campus is just one of the famed sites along his namesake trail (don’t miss The Lighthouse, Scotland's Centre for Design and Architecture along the route).
    Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • There’s this wonderful character in the book, Lucky’s childhood friend [Steph].
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Toronto is a wonderful city, and this will be a Saturday night game featuring Sidney Crosby in the place for hockey.
    Josh Yohe, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Anything seemed possible in medical science breakthroughs, from repairing a fictional astronaut to reconstructing a real-life ulnar collateral ligament (UCL).
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The fictional microstate Elgaland-Vargaland begins as an artistic game but evolves into a powerful lens on borders and identity.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • My lovely therapist even gave me a map of the feet at the end to help me decipher where best to apply pressure at home.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • This formula that not only acts as a deodorant, but imparts a lovely fragrance (and that's particularly appealing in the dead of summer).
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Consider the mythic fates of Icarus, Prometheus, Hercules—all were punished rather severely for trying to expand knowledge, to make progress.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2026
  • This is the story of a group of parents who are rushing to get a Trojan mascot across the Canadian-American border by the end of the week to avoid tariffs, not a mythical monster.
    Conor Wight, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Sometimes, incredibly powerful space telescopes work together to accomplish amazing things.
    Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Fans have been calling it the song of the summer, which has been so amazing for me as a new artist.
    McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Just before the pandemic, Manhattan’s MCC Theater staged a show called All the Natalie Portmans, about a gay Black teenage cinephile who envisions the actor as a kind of manic pixie imaginary friend.
    Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Near the end of the story, Gardner pledges to kill his imaginary son to spare him war’s toll, but backs out upon his wish to be transformed into a noble soldier.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Simashev is excellent defensively and on retrievals and tilts the ice in his favor.
    Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • As far as pop stars who happen to also be thoughtful and excellent songwriters go, Kahan is in the upper ranks.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fabulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fabulous. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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