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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 Hering and Wundt illusions are examples of how straight lines can appear curved if intersecting lines cross them at a certain angle.
    — Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026
  • In each case, however, modern physics has shown these assumptions to be illusions.
    — Adam Frank, NPR, 14 Sep. 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
  • OpenAI, xAI and Microsoft unveil competing visions for increasingly automated, yet supposedly supervised, AI development.
    — Kaitlyn Huamani, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Episode 4 begins with Stuart confined to a mental health facility, where he’s heavily medicated and quietly judged by a psychiatrist who believes his visions of alternate universes are all in his head.
    — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of visions
Noun
  • There was a famous movie in the ’80s called ‘The Entity,’ a horror movie where a woman is visited by spirits and has sex with them.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
  • These adaptogenics also cost as much, if not more, than alcoholic spirits, such as Three Spirit, which incorporates ingredients such as guayusa (stimulating effects), damiana (aphrodisiac effects) and valerian (stress-relieving effects).
    — Esther Tseng, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of spirits
Noun
  • Leslie, who led the Sparks to two WNBA championships, hopes her statue inspires young girls pursue their basketball dreams.
    — Jordan Puente, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
  • However, his raging protectiveness over what might be lost — language, attire, ritual, even memory — grows more pronounced as Rio veers further into phantasmagoria by way of dreams and visions.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of dreams
Noun
  • My aunties are more straightforward, seeing ghosts, that kind of thing.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Back to the ghosts Zwicker also is the author of books about haunted places in New England.
    — Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of ghosts
Noun
  • This is part of how Hollywood helped make the gerbil legend, shaping stars to deliver fantasies but telling lies along the way.
    — Allen Salkin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Within the often zany and slapstick realm of Bob’s Burgers, Tina still manages to steal the show with her singular voice, romantic fantasies, and obsessions with unicorns and boy bums.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of fantasies
Noun
  • The Supreme Court continues to make consequential rulings in the shadows.
    — Ken B. Morales, ProPublica, 21 Sep. 2026
  • His favorite target, CeeDee Lamb, emerged from the shadows with a breakout game that restores his stature among the NFL’s top wideouts in just one game.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Sep. 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 22 Sep. 2026.

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