phantasms

noun

variants also fantasms
plural of phantasm
1
as in illusions
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 apparitions
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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for phantasms
  1. illusions
  2. apparitions
  3. visions
  4. spirits
  5. dreams
  6. ghosts
  7. fantasies
  8. shadows
Noun
  • When the team built a setup to directly quantify real-time heat flux alongside electrical output, the theoretical illusions collapsed.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The myth goes back 2,000 years and holds that the Parthenon, which sits on the Acropolis overlooking Athens, was intentionally constructed with curves to correct various visual illusions and thus appear straight to the human eye.
    — Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of illusions
Noun
  • That is, until miraculous apparitions turn it into a place to be.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 17 July 2026
  • Today, the massive complex attracts paranormal investigators who report apparitions, voices, and other unexplained phenomena.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026
Definition of apparitions
Noun
  • If the Dodgers win the series, the Milwaukee winter could be cold and long, with fans tortured by visions of Skubal and presumptive Cy Young winner Jacob Misiorowski starting four games in the series.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
  • After coming into contact with the squid, Wade begins to have visions of the hag, a black-haired, sopping-wet woman in white who comes to him repeatedly.
    — Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of visions
Noun
  • The wines and spirits division maintained its momentum with a 6 percent increase in organic sales, while revenues in perfumes and cosmetics were flat in the quarter.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • These competitive spirits must defeat someone else, proving their mastery of the English language in the arena.
    — Sean McGowan, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of spirits
Noun
  • That’s what dreams and a very specific LG laptop are made of.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
  • For now, this perfect mix of burgeoning youth and senior leadership has come together to create an incredibly deep team with big dreams.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of dreams
Noun
  • Members of her immediate family have multiple wives, and a close friend claims to see ghosts.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Their paranormal intervention involves Dichen Lachman as Lois Anthony, in a role best described as Chris Hansen for ghosts.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of ghosts
Noun
  • His search gradually shifts from extraterrestrial fantasies toward the invisible outsiders living among us on Earth.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
  • This season, which focuses on tracking down Hamas operatives to stop another catastrophic attack on Israel, speaks directly to a post-October 7 Israeli psyche that is consumed by revenge fantasies.
    — Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of fantasies
Noun
  • Depending on the time of day and the weather, visitors will see these spaces under different light and cast with varying shadows.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The diagrid also casts cool shadows that shift as the day goes by.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of shadows
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.

Browse Nearby Words

phantasmic
phantasms
phantom
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Cite this Entry

“Phantasms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phantasms. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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