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 With the ability to deter pests due to its strong smell, mint is a fantastic herb to add to any garden space. Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 1 May 2026 Welcome indeed to Widow’s Bay, both the island located 40 miles off the coast of New England and the fantastic Apple TV+ series about that (possibly) (probably) (come on, definitely) cursed island. Jen Chaney, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026 Two years ago, OJ Frederique stepped foot on campus and immediately became UM’s best cornerback, finishing a fantastic freshman season ranked among the nation’s leaders in passer rating against. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026 Both of the movies are absolutely fantastic and could not be more different. Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fantastic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fantastic
Adjective
  • La beauté bizarre of the Lobster Boy is decadent.
    Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 2 May 2026
  • Fabianne Therese plays a young woman on a hike in the woods with her boyfriend (Seann William Scott) who runs afoul of a bizarre, imposing figure (pro wrestler Max the Impaler) with a porcelain doll mask intent on raising her as a child.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • Church depicted the high arch, which sits on land once owned by Thomas Jefferson, with scientific precision yet in a romantic, golden light.
    Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • The news broke the hearts of passionate regulars, who had flocked to the restaurant for family milestones, business dinners, romantic evenings and girls’ nights out since 1999.
    Connie Ogle May 2, Miami Herald, 2 May 2026
Adjective
  • That is the unhinged (complimentary) premise of Thomas Elrod’s debut, in which the fictional cult-classic epic fantasy Malicarn series is staged on an island with unwitting actors temporarily imprinted with the characters’ backstories.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
  • Midtown office buildings One of the most recognizable locations in the film is 1221 Avenue of the Americas, a 51-story tower in Midtown Manhattan that served as the exterior for the fictional Runway magazine headquarters in the original 2006 film.
    Kelly McGreal , Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • The only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System, Puerto Rico's El Yunque National Forest is home to an incredible amount of biodiversity.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 May 2026
  • In the moments before the Kentucky Derby began, two incredible women – one stepping off the grandest stage in horse racing and another about to step onto it – strode together to Churchill Downs’ paddock.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 3 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
  • Still absurd to the average person, but a far cry from what Biles paid.
    Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
  • As paranoia festers and absurd regulations tighten their grip, suspicion replaces love, and truth itself begins to warp.
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Calling it Riverbank, the couple lived on a lavish estate with farms, exotic animals, concrete sculptures, greenhouses, a Dutch windmill, a Japanese garden, science laboratories and more, according to the Preservation Partners.
    Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Like athletes, musicians train to master the impossibilities of decades past, to move faster, negotiate acrobatic passages with ease, reel off complex rhythms, and produce once exotic timbres.
    Justin Davidson, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Footnotes and excerpts from imaginary texts add to the story’s worldbuilding and its charm.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
  • The takeaway isn’t that morning anxiety is imaginary.
    Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fantastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fantastic. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

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