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
  • The rise of Black power influenced Chicano activism, and many Mexican Americans increasingly shed illusions that they could be seen as white, at least legally so, and rejected assimilationist impulses.
    — Eladio Bobadilla, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Neither of them, however, had any illusions about his prospects.
    — Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 13 July 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
  • The visions of Dreamers can be fraught with symbolism and almost impossible to understand.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • LARPing, or live-action role-playing, might conjure up visions of Dungeons & Dragons costumes and renaissance fairs.
    — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of visions
Noun
  • Today, the brown spirits landscape in this country has changed dramatically, and there is no longer a single state that does not have at least one whiskey producer.
    — Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • But the growth of non-alcoholic beer, wine and spirits has made zebra striping far more sustainable.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of spirits
Noun
  • Many players are balancing school and side gigs like bartending and firefighting while chasing their athletic dreams.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026
  • May this doll remind every child and every collector that dreams have no limits, excellence leaves a lasting imprint, and true greatness never goes out of style.
    — Alexis Mikulski Ruiz, VIBE.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of dreams
Noun
  • From giant ghosts and pumpkins to creepy characters and playful designs, larger-than-life inflatables are a fun way to take your outdoor Halloween decorations to the next level.
    — Casey DelBasso, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Forced to confront the ghosts of their past, the partners must navigate a chilling winter landscape and an even darker human monstrosity.
    — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of ghosts
Noun
  • This is the same thing, only moms are living their I-wish-when-I-was-in-college fantasies through their daughters.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • From Churchill onward, many British leaders clung to fantasies of global power and splendid isolation from Europe, fantasies that culminated in the disaster of Brexit.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of fantasies
Noun
  • Serra’s immersive event, a rapture of colors and shadows, pays fittingly grandiose tribute to an emissary of a legendary cinematic era.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The regulatory framework — not the smell itself — determines whether cannabis use happens in the open under reasonable rules or in the shadows with none at all.
    — Peter Su, Forbes.com, 10 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 13 Aug. 2026.

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