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 So why not a ballet about fabulous bling? Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026 Have a fabulous weekend, and happy spring. Vytas Reid, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026 Grand Opening The entire day culminated with a fabulous grand opening celebration with some familiar faces walking the red carpet alongside Martha. Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 16 Mar. 2026 The actress, who had an unforgettable triumph at last year's ceremony, returned to Los Angeles's Dolby Theatre tonight to serve up another fabulous look. Christina Perrier, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fabulous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fabulous
Adjective
  • Today’s Prius combines the same legendary efficiency with real performance, genuinely appealing design and everyday practicality.
    Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
  • The postponement follows a series of reports regarding the legendary performer’s health.
    Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The teams got invaluable data — and some wonderful video too.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Books Are Magic, a wonderful bookshop owned by novelist Emma Staub, alone could suck up an entire morning.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The two bonded over Crane’s adoration of the 1930s fictional detective Nero Wolfe and the formative subject of their fathers.
    Annie Vainshtein, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Getting cleared of a gruesome crime has boosted his social cache in his upper-class neighborhood of Westmont Village, a fictional New York suburb.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Of course, all of the discourse is taking place on the lovely, totally non-toxic place that is the internet.
    Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2026
  • And your answers were so lovely.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • In the immediate wake of Adebayo scoring 83 — second in NBA history only to Wilt Chamberlain’s mythical 100 — in a 150-129 blowout victory, Wizards coach Brian Keefe questioned the means to that end.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Per the new show’s official logline, in this new era of Peaky Blinders, a decade after World War Two, the race to rebuild Birmingham becomes a brutal contest of mythical dimensions.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • On the other hand, your own feelings (pleasant or otherwise) could inspire amazing artwork.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Crew has an amazing sight in store Four days later during the lunar flyby, the moon will appear to be the size of a basketball held at arm’s length.
    Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Engendered by the ubiquity of stable and robust WiFi and the incredible power of the smartphone’s system-on-a-chip design, the smart everything era demonstrates the full transfer of the smartness imaginary.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Following Christopher Columbus’ first voyage, the rulers of Portugal and Spain, by the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), partitioned the non-Christian world between them by an imaginary line in the Atlantic, 370 leagues (about 1,300 miles) west of the Cape Verde Islands.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Apple has somehow emerged from the global hardware shortage as a value buy, with its MacBook Neo offering an excellent modern computing experience for a mere $600.
    Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Harbor locals should boast that one of the county’s singularly excellent pizzerias is in their backyard.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fabulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fabulous. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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