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Synonym Chooser

How is the word fabulous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of fabulous are apocryphal, fictitious, legendary, and mythical. While all these words mean "having the nature of something imagined or invented," fabulous stresses the marvelous or incredible character of something without necessarily implying impossibility or actual nonexistence.

a land of fabulous riches

When is apocryphal a more appropriate choice than fabulous?

While the synonyms apocryphal and fabulous are close in meaning, apocryphal implies an unknown or dubious source or origin or may imply that the thing itself is dubious or inaccurate.

a book that repeats many apocryphal stories

Where would fictitious be a reasonable alternative to fabulous?

The words fictitious and fabulous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fictitious implies fabrication and suggests artificiality or contrivance more than deliberate falsification or deception.

fictitious characters

When might legendary be a better fit than fabulous?

The meanings of legendary and fabulous largely overlap; however, legendary suggests the elaboration of invented details and distortion of historical facts produced by popular tradition.

the legendary exploits of Davy Crockett

When could mythical be used to replace fabulous?

Although the words mythical and fabulous have much in common, mythical implies a purely fanciful explanation of facts or the creation of beings and events out of the imagination.

mythical creatures

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of fabulous Trivia is a fabulous bit of TV, an easily bingeable (and instantly rewatchable) 12 episodes. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 1 June 2025 But while you may be tempted to spend your days sunning, building sand castles, and splashing in the waves (all of which are fabulous), don’t miss out on researching nearby attractions. Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 30 May 2025 The Verhaeghe-Bennett-Tkachuk line was fabulous Thursday. Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025 This is a fabulous day for romance and warm, loving relations with others, because the Moon is in your sign, lined up with Venus in your sign, which is also close to Neptune in your sign. Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for fabulous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fabulous
Adjective
  • Your wonderful dog may or may not hanker to break routine and go on holiday.
    John Oseid, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • My daughter came to live with us for nine wonderful years.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 27 May 2025
Adjective
  • Nini Berndt makes lovely work of this bruise-writing, the kind of devastation that leaves you with your fist pressed to your lips, aching hard for everyone involved.
    Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 3 June 2025
  • The lovely gorge setting makes Screw Auger a popular place to visit in the summer.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • What makes the book so extraordinary is that is functions as a de facto catalogue for a mythical Rolex museum, chock full of images of timepieces from every Rolex era, dating to 1908, three years after the brand was founded.
    Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 26 May 2025
  • The mythical creature is said to be the origin of the first Vietnamese people.
    Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • Comments Chloe Fineman has explained how that amazing triple Jennifer Coolidge impression — Fineman, Dana Carvey, and host Ariana Grande — landed on Saturday Night Live.
    Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 28 May 2025
  • There’s still men — there’s Benson, who’s doing amazing.
    Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • That’s the assessment in Ari Aster’s Eddington, which views that collective national trauma through the microcosm of a fictitious New Mexico small town.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2025
  • The trials and tribulations of the fictitious protagonist, however, have precedents.
    Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This is an excellent time to invest, pitch a creative idea or spruce up your portfolio.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 5 June 2025
  • Robin will make an excellent addition to our great Kentucky State Senate Majority!
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • Steve Bould, a first-team coach and a legendary figure at the club from his own playing days, had wanted to turn the lad into a centre-half.
    Stuart James, New York Times, 6 June 2025
  • Nicholas Cage stars as the legendary NFL coach, who won Super Bowl XI in 1977 for the Raiders and later became a broadcaster.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • But what were his motivations for the sculptural cut that reduced the body by a third, literally disabling all of the fetish’s functions except for those of its primary feature, the design, thereby intensifying it, endowing it even with an imaginary, almost futuristic acceleration?
    Benjamin H. D. Buchloh, Artforum, 1 June 2025
  • Dairy farmers should not be the villains in an imaginary climate change narrative - they should be respected as part of the backbone of our state's rural economy and heritage.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fabulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fabulous. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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