variants
also fantasm
1
as in illusion
a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality
frightened by the phantasms of his own making
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in apparition
the soul of a dead person thought of especially as appearing to living people
believed that she'd seen the phantasm of her father on the anniversary of his death
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of phantasm
As a result, Putin has opted for endurance: outlasting Western support for Ukraine by exploiting transatlantic fatigue and pairing threats of escalation with the phantasm of a peace that is always just around the corner.
—
Veronica Anghel, Foreign Affairs, 16 Sep. 2025
In spite of its phonetics, apparently the term is not Yiddish, but a neologism declared by a French writer of comedic phantasms to be German and intended to designate an absurd, unfathomable object that can serve all kinds of purposes.
—Benjamin H. D. Buchloh, Artforum, 1 June 2025
But is the gender phantasm as crucial to the global far right as Butler claims?
—Katha Pollitt, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2024
Likewise, Poe’s devilish ambiguity, his production of phantasms both real and imagined, undergirds James’s own ventures into the genre.
—Phillip MacIak, The New Republic, 11 Oct. 2023
See All Example Sentences for phantasm
Veronica Anghel, Foreign Affairs, 16 Sep. 2025
In spite of its phonetics, apparently the term is not Yiddish, but a neologism declared by a French writer of comedic phantasms to be German and intended to designate an absurd, unfathomable object that can serve all kinds of purposes.
—Benjamin H. D. Buchloh, Artforum, 1 June 2025
But is the gender phantasm as crucial to the global far right as Butler claims?
—Katha Pollitt, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2024
Likewise, Poe’s devilish ambiguity, his production of phantasms both real and imagined, undergirds James’s own ventures into the genre.
—Phillip MacIak, The New Republic, 11 Oct. 2023
See All Example Sentences for phantasm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phantasm
Noun
-
Platforms delegate the illusion of control and trade on a libertarian myth to obscure the autocratic reality.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
-
The modern estate is being asked to function simultaneously as residence, wellness retreat, office, sports facility and family compound, all while preserving the illusion that none of it requires management at all.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
That late-game run––forty-four points to the Cavs’ eleven––was as soul-crushing to Cleveland as the apparition of Willis Reed, hobbling to center court, had been to the Lakers fifty-six years ago.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
-
The book is a poetry collection structured in three acts with seven players, each assigned a color of the rainbow and an apparition’s name, each of whom needs an audience to fully exist.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Sign up for Euphoria Club, a newsletter overanalyzing season three of Sam Levinson’s HBO fever dream, for subscribers only.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
1 June 2026
-
Talk show host Kelly Ripa never intended for her dream dress from her 1996 elopement to Mark Consuelos to be one-and-done.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
The ghost called Sidhangana, who acts as chorus, is the rainbow.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
-
The series was an anthology hosted by the titular Frankelda, the ghost of an aspiring horror writer, who told stories about children encountering the paranormal.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
The bar was set high from here, but even the best Bond games have only superficially tackled the essence of the spy fantasy.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
28 May 2026
-
Frustrated with her imperfect husband, a tipsy Marge stirs up a trilogy of fantasies of a different Homer.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
This new rye whiskey started its life in Illinois, specifically at Chicago craft distillery Koval, which makes some very… interesting spirits (the Koopers trained there as distillers).—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
31 May 2026
-
As creative director of menswear at Louis Vuitton, Williams is an organic partner for Moët & Chandon, which belongs to the wines and spirits division of luxury conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
The heady scent—a mix of white florals, amber, and sandalwood—induces daydreams of tanning on a white-sand beach.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
27 May 2026
-
Nina, Karen and Caroline started appearing in my daydreams, full of vigor and life lessons.—
Jennifer Acker,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
That’s the £312 million phantom.—
Maman Ibrahim,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
Such a designation, evidently, would save agents from wasting time chasing phantoms.—
Adam Ciralsky,
Vanity Fair,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phantasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phantasm. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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