variants also fantastical
Definition of fantasticnext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word fantastic different from other adjectives like it?

The words bizarre and grotesque are common synonyms of fantastic. While all three words 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

When is it sensible to use bizarre instead of fantastic?

The meanings of bizarre and fantastic largely overlap; however, 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

Where would grotesque be a reasonable alternative to fantastic?

Although the words grotesque and fantastic have much in common, 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

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 fantastic The show features a mix of realistic and fantastical elements—depending on the song and episode. Kara Nesvig, Parents, 12 June 2026 At a time when Tesla’s carmaking business is mired in a multiyear decline, the company’s market value has soared to new highs almost exclusively on the billionaire CEO’s fantastical promises of a future in which all cars will drive themselves and robots will babysit the kids. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 11 June 2026 Set in Mexico in the late 1800s, the story centers on Francisca, a gifted writer of dark tales and fantastical characters. Carole Horst, Variety, 11 June 2026 Their political motivations led them down bizarre and fantastical paths, with some even fashioning themselves as the true victims of Norvell’s attack. Aram Goudsouzian, The Conversation, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fantastic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fantastic
Adjective
  • Weird neighbors and increasingly bizarre diversions plague every attempt Nameless Hero makes to get down the stairs of his building to the man who’s standing outside.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 June 2026
  • And in a bizarre twist, a criminal investigation has been opened after three dogs were found dead at the travel trailer where mauling victim Jodi Cowan was living at the time of the fatal attack.
    Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
Adjective
  • Throw out your romantic rulebook!
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 15 June 2026
  • One concerns a romantic dream come true that becomes a bit of a nightmare.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2026
Adjective
  • The mural that wraps around the room depicts the colorful life of the bar’s namesake, Arabella Huntington, the second wife of railroad magnate Collis Potter Huntington, and the cocktails in the drinks menu are playfully written as fictional entries in Arabella’s diary.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 June 2026
  • In the show, the fictional version of Harrelson goes to stay at McConaughey's ranch in Austin, but things spiral out of control after McConaughey's mom, played by Holland Taylor, lets their possible familial connection slip.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • In an incredible twist of fate, a then-20-year-old Messi was actually photographed holding Yamal as a baby back in 2007.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
  • In baseball, the incredible comeback of the Mets to beat the Boston Red Sox in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 14 June 2026
Adjective
  • The campsite is a budget-friendly way to spend a few nights in the area, a wonderful addition given the more luxe vibe of the other spaces that makes this property feel like a real community.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 June 2026
  • But in general, working with Tim is just wonderful.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 16 June 2026
Adjective
  • Swipe fees and minimums make a tenth-of-a-cent charge absurd.
    Renana Ashkenazi, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • Yes, Scheffler enters this week as the betting favorite, but by his absurd standards, his probability has actually dipped.
    Brody Miller, New York Times, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • Ceramic rotors have some of the highest heat capacities and are often found on exotic cars.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
  • Like many older men, another obsession of Jabin’s is exotic cars.
    Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • She was arrested last summer for yelling at imaginary people due to her psychiatric challenges, Murphy said.
    Jack Dura, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
  • But these images as well as those from other cultures are evidence of how deeply the dog is lodged in folk consciousness as an imaginary animal alter ego.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fantastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fantastic. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

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