variants or mythic
1
2

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 Penned by Black Doves writer Joe Barton, Amadeus is a reimagining of Peter Shaffer’s award-winning stage play, and will expand and interrogate the mythic rivalry of the two composers. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025 Since its municipal establishment in 2018, Roku City has been a metropolis intermittently besieged by mythical creatures including a kraken, a big robot, and a Godzilla-like kaiju. Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025 Watkins himself was something of a mythic figure. Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025 Last year, moments included a violinist perched 15 feet in the air with a cascading 20-foot dress, a crew of mythic horsehead creatures, the Raven, the Jester, Cersei, and Arachnea. Jenny Adams, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mythical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mythical
Adjective
  • Four years after the legendary Broncos receiver was found dead in his shower at just 33 years old -- due to complications from a seizure disorder, a medical examiner later ruled — the shock of Thomas’ loss still burns through those closest to him.
    Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Dig into legendary ribs, wings, and brisket at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, the roadhouse-style flagship that has become an Upstate New York institution.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Lost Dutchman The Lost Dutchman Mine is one of Arizona's most enduring legends, centered around a fabled gold mine supposedly hidden in the Superstition Mountains.
    Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Jamie Roy and Harriet Slater star as the fabled Brian Fraser and Ellen MacKenzie, while Jeremy Irvine and Hermione Corfield round out the main cast as Claire's parents, Henry Beauchamp and Julia Moriston.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Complete with over 50 pieces of pretend food, play money, and more, this high-quality toy is a steal at nearly 50% off its typical price.
    Gabrielle Applebury, Parents, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Back in the day, Dick was the duo’s straight man; Tom was the pretend naïf who got the best lines and, backstage, served as the act’s guiding hand.
    Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Turner called Simons an unreal talent.
    Jay King, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Ciudad Valles The Mexican state of San Luis Potosí is famous for its seemingly unreal, cerulean blue waterfalls.
    Sarah Buder, AFAR Media, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Of course, specific local conditions vary on either side of that imaginary line.
    Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Now draw an imaginary line diagonally through the Dipper's bowl from Dubhe (the upper right star in the bowl) down through Phecda (the lower left star in the bowl) and extend that line downward about twice the distance between those two stars and that will bring you to the vicinity of Cor Caroli.
    Joe Rao, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Blending fictional stories with real historical figures and events, the show captures the promise and pain of the American dream, exploring themes of race, class and identity that continue to resonate decades later.
    Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
  • That’s on top of the other revenue streams, such as sponsorship deals for the fictional APXGP team.
    Luke Smith, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Nicolas Cage was rumored to be interested in playing Charlie and his fictitious twin, Donald.
    Susan Orlean, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2025
  • However fictitious, these uplifting moments are currently missing from our real-life news cycle.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mythical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mythical. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mythical

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!