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Synonym Chooser

How is the word mythical distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of mythical are apocryphal, fabulous, fictitious, and legendary. While all these words mean "having the nature of something imagined or invented," mythical implies a purely fanciful explanation of facts or the creation of beings and events out of the imagination.

mythical creatures

When is apocryphal a more appropriate choice than mythical?

In some situations, the words apocryphal and mythical are roughly equivalent. However, 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

In what contexts can fabulous take the place of mythical?

While in some cases nearly identical to mythical, fabulous stresses the marvelous or incredible character of something without necessarily implying impossibility or actual nonexistence.

a land of fabulous riches

When might fictitious be a better fit than mythical?

While the synonyms fictitious and mythical are close in meaning, fictitious implies fabrication and suggests artificiality or contrivance more than deliberate falsification or deception.

fictitious characters

When can legendary be used instead of mythical?

The words legendary and mythical can be used in similar contexts, but legendary suggests the elaboration of invented details and distortion of historical facts produced by popular tradition.

the legendary exploits of Davy Crockett

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 mythical So how do this year’s Rockies stack up with the 2024 Sox in a mythical matchup? Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025 Skates have long been used to craft mythical creatures. Peter Kyne, The Conversation, 16 June 2025 And his government constructed a temple to Ram on the site of a former mosque in Ayodhya, the mythical birthplace of the eponymous hero of a Hindu epic. Hartosh Singh Bal, Foreign Affairs, 30 June 2025 Ozark Bathhouse, adorned with facade planters bearing pairs of mythical flying creatures, sometimes functions as a cultural center that hosts exhibits of arts and crafts. Arkansas Online, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for mythical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mythical
Adjective
  • The Grammy-winning Prince of Darkness and legendary rocker died just weeks after reuniting with Black Sabbath for a final show in England.
    Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 24 July 2025
  • In memoriam: The Grammy-winning Prince of Darkness and legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne has died just weeks after reuniting with Black Sabbath for a final show in England.
    John Carlisle, Freep.com, 24 July 2025
Adjective
  • When free of ice, the fabled Northwest Passage connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific via the Bering Sea ‒ a 40% shorter route for ships to travel from Asia to Europe compared to using the Panama or Suez canals.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 10 July 2025
  • Opened in 1900, the fabled resort was long a Venetian refuge for cultural glitterati and has hosted Winston Churchill, poet Ezra Pound and celebrities including Elizabeth Taylor, Marcello Mastroianni, George Clooney, Johnny Depp and Madonna.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • These fake-vulnerable posts combining success stories with pretend insecurity trigger eye rolls, not engagement.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • For makeup fun, there is pretend lipstick, two nail polish bottles, blush, a makeup brush, eye shadow and an applicator.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • In a sit-down interview, Goldberg said the amount of disrespect Gunther had for Goldberg was unreal.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • And, if Mateer and Ott are as-advertised, this could be an unreal year for the Sooners.
    Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Is all this merely a sci-fi imaginary consideration?
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
  • And yes, it will be displayed, but mercifully, not in an imaginary basement.
    Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 18 July 2025
Adjective
  • The story centers around a die-hard musical theater fan who plays his favorite (fictional) 1920s musical on his record player, bringing the show to life within his apartment.
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 14 July 2025
  • The employees of Dunder Mifflin Paper Co.'s Scranton, Pennsylvania, office were filmed for nine seasons by a fictional documentary crew, a plot point that became extremely important in the series' final season.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 12 July 2025
Adjective
  • An adoption of a fictitious docudrama style, where scenarios are created for the show’s cast, brought in more subpar episodes which many feel didn’t help the cause.
    Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2025
  • Unsurprisingly, then, scammers are also keen to exploit this by way of fictitious job opportunities through unofficial channels, websites, emails, and text messages.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mythical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mythical. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.

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