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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 Since they were brought up among the winged creatures, the siblings can ride the mythical creatures as well as speak with them. Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 13 June 2025 Hop on a dragon and take a ride to the mythical Isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons come together for whimsical adventures. Skyler Trepel, EW.com, 13 June 2025 The game is tribal, and Liverpool is something of a cult, a mythical club where local heroes don’t leave easily. Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025 With Il Viaggio di Nettuno—A New Chapter, Neptune and his mythical cohort of winged horses and frantic octopuses leap across porcelain tableware in muted shades of butter yellow, sky blue, and peach. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for mythical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mythical
Adjective
  • Later iterations include tapestries reflecting the legendary works of artists like Gustav Klimt and William Morris—styles that are still popular in today’s wall hangings.
    Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 2025
  • Inspired by the legendary Oval pocket watch Derek Pratt and Voutilainen made for Urban Jürgensen, the UJ-1 is easily the most impressive of the three (pictured with the caseback on view).
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • The two most fabled decades in English popular culture are, almost without question, the 1960s and the 1990s.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 29 June 2025
  • But there’s so much more to the fabled Himalayan kingdom, sights and experiences that offer a much deeper insight into one of the world’s most fascinating cultures.
    JOE YOGERST, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • Indeed, so realistic was this pretend moon that Cowan and fellow imaging experts had to wear protective clothing to prevent the simulated lunar dust from being breathed in, or getting in their hair or on their clothes.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 June 2025
  • Some of our favorite series deliver some of the finest pretend motion pictures.
    James Mercadante, EW.com, 29 May 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
  • 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
  • The fictional town of Havenport was filmed in Wilmington, NC, and nearby Southport, NC.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • The Hollywood Reporter can reveal that, under the multiyear deal, IMG Licensing will develop and manage a robust licensing program spanning Maas’s entire fictional universe with the aim of creating new touchpoints for her fervid fan base.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • Although it was portrayed as the fictitious Amity island in the film, many of the location sites are still favorite destinations with travelers — less so for the traffic and tourist-averse year-round islanders.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 27 June 2025
  • Instead, the two lawyers achieved notoriety in 2023 when the judge in the case fined the pair $5,000 for citing six fictitious cases, invented by artificial intelligence software, in a brief to the court.
    Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mythical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mythical. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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