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
  • Designed by Australian magician and magic consultant Adam Mada, the illusions use a fade box where contestants can be seen disappearing and reappearing on the studio monitors in real time.
    — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 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 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
  • Meanwhile, at a college job fair, Angie and Ormewood encounter a grad student claiming to have psychic visions.
    — Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Ewa Mroczkowska’s production design also turns dewy embankments, decadent interiors, and sunrises over cemeteries into visions of storybook-like decay.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of visions
Noun
  • The project follows a husband and wife who buy their dream ranch only to discover the land is alive with ancient spirits, and survival means submitting to increasingly disturbing rituals with each turn of the season.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Directed by Geum Dong-ho, the musical animation follows a singer-songwriter with the supernatural ability to see spirits who joins forces with a quartet of ghosts to form a musical troupe.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of spirits
Noun
  • Drawings, like dreams, can often feel open-ended, prompting a multiplicity of thoughts.
    — Hilton Als, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • This book inspires football players who are no longer active on the field to embrace life with a positive perception, maintaining their passion to continue pursuing their dreams and building a healthy personal and professional life.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of dreams
Noun
  • Victorian ghosts, lingering by the stairs, have a way of drawing visitors.
    — Anna Russell, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Set in the present day, ghosts from the past of Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) finally catch up to him, shattering his peaceful retirement in Alaska.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of ghosts
Noun
  • At one point, the women even share fantasies about killing their boss.
    — Shima Oliaee, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Ancient buildings are not fantasies beyond reach, but the living evidence of history’s continuing line.
    — Nielsen Dinwoodie, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of fantasies
Noun
  • The group uncovers betrayal within its own ranks and faces a battle for the fate of the world, ultimately awakening their true powers and restoring peace, though a new threat emerges quietly in the shadows.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Why not try to capture the moon using a DSLR camera and a telephoto lens when the Harvest Moon rises and in the weeks that follow to track how the shifting shadows alter its appearance?
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 31 Aug. 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 10 Sep. 2026.

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