PHANTASM Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

phantasm

noun

ˈfan-ˌta-zəm

variants also fantasm

Definition of phantasm

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

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

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 phantasm No one had meant more to Miami during the past three years, devoting themselves to painstakingly lifting a program plump with the phantasm of a reign long past. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 20 Jan. 2026 In times of increasing cynicism and apathy in the zeitgeist, this phantasm extravaganza — at once humorously deadpan in its playful tableaus and poignantly sincere at its emotional core — feels like a breath of fresh air. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 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

But planning and repositioning are different exercises, and the space between them is exactly where the diversification illusion lives longest.

— Khalifa Aldhaheri, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shattered Europe’s remaining illusions not just about Moscow but also about Beijing.

— Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of illusion

Noun

That is, until miraculous apparitions turn it into a place to be.

— Marta Balaga, Variety, 17 July 2026
The music starts to shift beginning with the third episode, when Lestat becomes overwhelmed by the apparition of his abusive maker and other ghosts, including Claudia, whose killing he’d been forced to witness firsthand.

— Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026

Definition of apparition

Noun

That was Briscoe’s introduction to racing, an inspiration that fueled his desire and his racing dreams.

— Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Hull made a dream return to the Premier League after a nine-year absence, beating Manchester United 2-0 to puncture any preseason optimism surrounding the 20-time champions.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of dream

Noun

Even longtime Santa Fe residents (my family has lived in the city for more than 30 years) describe the hotel as transportive, less like checking into a resort and more like entering a private fantasy world.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
The Lions are projected to have a far better offense, and Gibbs has averaged easily the most fantasy points in NFL history during games without David Montgomery.

— Jess Bryant, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of fantasy

Noun

The mini bar—located inside a gorgeous wooden cabinet—was filled with local spirits like pox, a Mayan liquor made of corn, sugar cane, and wheat, and Mayalen Guerrero mezcal in a bottle so beautiful I was tempted to sneak it back in my suitcase.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
Drinkwitz has said Hardy is in good spirits throughout his recovery, even having his son accompany him to rehab.

— PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of spirit

Noun

The next day, Luwi had a similar daydream, but this time the disapproving patriarch was Gajdusek.

— Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
And amidst the momentum of reverie, there’s the line ‘Blink at the light and hope to survive,’ because daydreams in a fascist state can be scary too.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 June 2026

Definition of daydream

Noun

Both phantoms were packed with thousands of dosimeters, tracking radiation dose over specific phases of the flight rather than just a cumulative total.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026
The two phantoms were designed to be adult females, since previous research found that breasts and ovaries are especially susceptible to radiation damage.

— Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 12 Aug. 2026