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
  • Neither of them, however, had any illusions about his prospects.
    — Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
  • Because only in intense, rarefied states will our illusions finally drop away, like redundant scaffolding, freeing us to perceive life on a more visceral level.
    — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 11 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
  • Tens of millions of dollars have poured into Florida campaigns from companies with visions of transforming vast stretches of land in the state’s rural pockets into warehouses.
    — South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The winner will immediately face the task of bringing together supporters of two candidates who have offered different visions for the party and whose campaigns have grown increasingly contentious in the closing weeks.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of visions
Noun
  • The spirits Gu-cheon interacts with throughout the series were invisible on set.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Fatty Arbuckle’s Pub, established in 2003, is home to over 200 different whiskeys and fine spirits.
    — USA TODAY NETWORK, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Definition of spirits
Noun
  • Young Wifredo loved drawing images from his dreams and was later sent to art school to study the work of the European masters.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Her fever dreams were of floating untethered in an infinite black space, of being trapped in a blinding spotlight on an empty stage, not knowing how or where to move.
    — Rachel Yoder, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of dreams
Noun
  • Twelve-year-old Harmony is fascinated by ghosts and determined to photograph one.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The Canadian producer/musician creates songs that feel like they’re haunted by their own ghosts, laced with intertwining echoes, tiny sonic fractures, and a palpable sense of place.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of ghosts
Noun
  • As a young adult, Paul worked at a lumber yard and had fantasies of working a straight job as an accountant.
    — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 20 July 2026
  • The President’s fantasies can, at times, take on a lurid tone.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 18 July 2026
Definition of fantasies
Noun
  • Mixing a sharp slider with a changeup and fastball from the sunshine into the shadows early in the game, Cease had very little hard contact.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
  • And as eye makeup continues its renaissance–with colorful liners, statement shadows and playful mascaras everywhere from the catwalks to TikTok–there’s never been a better time to experiment.
    — Chloe Burcham, Vogue, 24 July 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 4 Aug. 2026.

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