mythical

adjective

ˈmi-thi-kəl How to pronounce mythical (audio)
variants or mythic
Definition of mythicalnext
1
as in legendary
based on, described in, or being a myth for years the Spanish conquistadors searched for the mythical El Dorado, a place of unimaginable riches

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fantastical
not real and existing only in the imagination the mythical unicorn

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mythical distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of mythical are apocryphal, fabulous, fictitious, and legendary. While all these words mean "having the nature of something imagined or invented," mythical implies a purely fanciful explanation of facts or the creation of beings and events out of the imagination.

mythical creatures

When is apocryphal a more appropriate choice than mythical?

In some situations, the words apocryphal and mythical are roughly equivalent. However, 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

In what contexts can fabulous take the place of mythical?

While in some cases nearly identical to mythical, fabulous stresses the marvelous or incredible character of something without necessarily implying impossibility or actual nonexistence.

a land of fabulous riches

When might fictitious be a better fit than mythical?

While the synonyms fictitious and mythical are close in meaning, fictitious implies fabrication and suggests artificiality or contrivance more than deliberate falsification or deception.

fictitious characters

When can legendary be used instead of mythical?

The words legendary and mythical can be used in similar contexts, but legendary suggests the elaboration of invented details and distortion of historical facts produced by popular tradition.

the legendary exploits of Davy Crockett

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 mythical This characteristic has given it a kind of mythical reputation among car enthusiasts the world over. —Robert Ferris, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025 More recently, the Disney movie Turning Red told a mythical tale involving a teenage girl going through puberty. —Melissa Willets, Parents, 28 Feb. 2025 This sends him on a high-stakes journey to find the mythical Last Wish, a fabled star that can restore his lost lives. —Jane Lacroix, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025 Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega escape a murderous mythical creature in an exclusive new clip from Death of a Unicorn, in theaters March 28. —Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mythical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mythical
  1. legendary
  2. fabled
  3. pretend
  4. unreal
  5. imaginary
  6. fictional
  7. fictitious
Adjective
  • Even David Strathairn, another legendary salt-and-pepper presence on the big screen, went full brown for his role in the film adaptation upon which the Broadway show is based.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The verbal sparring escalated when Stratton took a deeply personal route, suggesting that Flair would forever remain in the shadow of her legendary father, Ric Flair.
    — Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of legendary
Adjective
  • Amazingly, four airlines still fly passenger versions of the fabled aircraft, Lufthansa, Korean Air, Air China, and Rossiya, a division of Russian carrier Aeroflot.
    — Michael Goldstein, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Such an exalted position also makes a school oblivious to what’s outside the fabled gates, no matter how many scholarships these schools award.
    — David Galef/Chicago Tribune, Boston Herald, 19 Jan. 2025
Definition of fabled
Adjective
  • The recalled Brunch & Go Stroller Toy features a pretend piece of avocado toast and three attachments: a mirror tomato, a crinkle bacon, and an egg teether.
    — DeVonne Goode, Parents, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Note: the premier seaview studio is perfect for a pretend, lusty honeymoon escape as the oversized king bed was positioned for maximum sea-view appreciation (and espresso in bed in the mornings).
    — Jenn Rice, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of pretend
Adjective
  • His day was capped off with an unreal approach shot from 200 yards out on 18.
    — Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Arrival of The Manimal: Future Nuggets standout Kenneth Faried made his debut at the Pepsi Center in 2011 and went from a relative unknown to unreal.
    — Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of unreal
Adjective
  • The Emmy Award-winner plays the Black woman stand-in for a white male protagonist in an imaginary story to repurpose the popularity of a once successful Keyworth Pictures’ franchise.
    — Malik Peay, Essence, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Perception Of Threat: In situations of aggression, whether real or imaginary, a natural response is to fight back.
    — Naira Velumyan, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Definition of imaginary
Adjective
  • Bad Summer People, which has drawn comparisons to The White Lotus, is set in the idyllic fictional town of Salcombe, Fire Island, and follows a sequence of life shattering events when a body is discovered off the side of the boardwalk.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
  • In the series, Sephora becomes a sponsor for the fictional Los Angeles Waves basketball team, of which Kate Hudson’s character becomes the president.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of fictional
Adjective
  • Amid the audience laughter at a lecture, U.S. Navy oceanographer Robert Ballard bit his tongue and told the questioner the jewelry was fictitious.
    — Terry Collins, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Searches were carried out in France and Belgium last month to determine if his Belgian tax domicile was fictitious.
    — Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, 24 Mar. 2025
Definition of fictitious

Browse Nearby Words

myth
mythical
mythoi
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Cite this Entry

“Mythical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mythical. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of mythical for Spanish Speakers

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