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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 Crossword puzzles offer a fantastic opportunity to engage your mind, enjoy leisure time, and test your knowledge simultaneously. Sally Hoelscher, USA Today, 3 July 2025 Our at-bat quality was fantastic throughout the game. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025 He's done a fantastic job of energizing people under 30 to care about the elections, which was an achievement by itself. Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025 Thank you, Florida Panthers, for giving us such a fantastic season and back-to-back Stanley Cups. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for fantastic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fantastic
Adjective
  • This bizarre tale about being picked up by bounty hunters, taken to an unmarked warehouse without access to food, water or an attorney were clearly fabricated.
    Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
  • Alicia Hannah-Kim is breaking her silence after a bizarre incident with Cobra Kai costar Martin Kove earlier this month resulted in him being removed from a fan event for biting her.
    Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Again, these are fictional groups from a Netflix movie (albeit, of course, with real singers behind them).
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
  • In April 2025, Pascale Hutton, who plays Rosemary Coulter, shared a post on Instagram posing with her on-screen husband, Kavan Smith, who portrays Leland Coulter, and their fictional daughter, Marigold.
    Francesca Gariano, People.com, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • The raging storm, fueled by incredible amounts of moisture, woke up her cabin just after midnight Friday.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 July 2025
  • From there, Homa two-putted to save an incredible par.
    Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • Colleagues, mentors and friends are wonderful sources of feedback.
    Kim Salem-Jackson, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Favorite collections: Dior, Willy Chavarria, Craig Green, Lemaire and Officine Générale Best show format: The glorious city of Paris and its surroundings were on wonderful display this show season.
    Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Inspired by the fanciful style of Antoni Gaudí’s Park Güell, in Barcelona; Saint Phalle worked with a team of collaborators that included her husband, Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely, on 22 large-scale concrete sculptures, each representing a mystical figure from the tarot deck.
    Kin Woo, Vogue, 30 June 2025
  • While the current conflict may lead us to think such cooperation is fanciful, who could have thought that the U.S. and Japan would be G7 allies after a nuclear bombing within a generation?
    Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • The kernel of the script imagined Ruth’s movements through her longtime home for the final time—a marvelous, minutely observed sequence that opens the film—and then her new home for the first time.
    Lisa Wong Macabasco, Vogue, 20 June 2025
  • Chuck invites a woman from the crowd to join him — Janice Halliday (Annalise Basso), whom the narrator has just informed us has undergone a bad breakup via text message — and their marvelous dance sequence offers a startling contrast to the grim despair of the film’s first (third?) act.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • Since its inception, astronomers had busied themselves tracking the apparent movements of the stars, moon and planets relative to an imaginary line running north to south through the observatory, known as a 'meridian'.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 22 June 2025
  • Some will retreat from public life, spurning those closest to them in favor of an imaginary narrative woven with these programs.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2025
Adjective
  • This would not have been possible without tireless work from our excellent lawyers @TheJusticeDept and our Solicitor General John Sauer.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
  • Along the way, there have been some other expressions as well, including single barrel, barrel-proof whiskeys, a series of excellent cask-strength American single malts, and rye whiskeys made with different grain varietals.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 29 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fantastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fantastic. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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