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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 But what truly sets this place apart are its fabulous fêtes. Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025 Their feud — which drags their friends, families, and lovers in with them — has the arch tone and fabulous ’80s fashion of a Pedro Almodóvar movie. Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2025 Living in a fabulous suite atop this edifice is the music producer David King, played by Lee’s longtime collaborator Denzel Washington, who surveys his borough with wily confidence. David Sims, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 2025 Byrne’s style is minimalist, while Lee is a maximalist, but the filmmaker knows how best to serve this material, focusing on the stage so that the audience can savor Byrne’s fabulous band and their precise, whimsical choreography. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fabulous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fabulous
Adjective
  • The music is wonderful and the archival footage a blast.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Make sure everyone gets to enjoy this wonderful pastime for years to come.
    Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The film’s docufiction-like honesty is the most conspicuous here: to imagine that the Mother Teresa whom the world knows mostly as a faultless octogenarian might have as a younger woman had similar intense moments of extreme conflicting emotions is humanizing, and lovely.
    Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2025
  • These gorgeous plants don’t mind the heat and humidity, and their lovely, papery blooms last for weeks and weeks throughout the summer.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Finding leaders who operate successfully across these tensions seems theoretical, borderline mythical at best.
    Dilan Gomih, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
  • The redistricting was then lampooned in a political cartoon, showing the districts in the shape of a winged mythical beast.
    Amanda Castro Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Get out to Pilsen or Little Village for authentic Mexican food, amazing street art, and unique shops; explore the boutiques and fine dining options in neighborhoods like Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, or the Gold Coast; visit the pedestrian mall in Chinatown.
    Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
  • One of the things that’s been so amazing and surprising has been how many people have reached out about that episode.
    Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Rather than young school children, our heroes are octogenarians living in a rather upmarket retirement home (the fictitious Coopers Chase).
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
  • The association that Fuller makes with an entirely fictitious racial group—Indo-European for many racists both inside and outside the fascist movement, and more specifically Indo-German for some Nazis—only occurred later.
    Stewart Home August 22, Literary Hub, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s trendy hot pot and face-numbing Sichuan spots, as well as relative newcomers like the excellent Thai spot Zaab Zaab.
    Cathy Erway, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Aug. 2025
  • The tavern is the result of excellent teamwork, bringing together dozens of talented individuals from Disney’s Imagineering team over the course of a year, including senior creative director Chris Weck and executive producer Ken Ricci.
    Ronny Maye, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Warner Music Group has released the cast recording of the recent Broadway revival of the legendary musical, Gypsy.
    Jane Levere, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
  • The west London club has won all six WSL titles since Arsenal last won it in 2019 and last year finished a cushy 12 points clear of the north Londoners, even after significant upheaval that included legendary manager Emma Hayes leaving the club.
    Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Now it's woke again for trying to wipe an imaginary farmer from its logo.
    Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Americans love to keep an imaginary list of life milestones–buy a home, start a family, hit six figures, all complete with age expiration dates.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fabulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fabulous. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.

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