variants
also fantasm
1
as in illusion
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 apparition
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
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Recent Examples of phantasm
The phantasm jeers at me in this lecture theatre.
—
Tega Oghenechovwen, Longreads, 10 Aug. 2020
There, like enormous catcher’s mitts, the detectors lie in wait for extremely rare collisions between one of these lumbering phantasms and an ordinary atom.
—Rachel Courtland, IEEE Spectrum, 1 May 2014
But eventually, the duo turned the phantasm into solid logic.
—Quanta Magazine, 15 July 2021
Southern lawmakers baselessly claimed Black men were lynched for raping White women -- a phantasm that still haunts Black men -- and asserted laws governing lynchings were best left to the states.
—Eliott C. McLaughlin, CNN, 27 May 2021
See All Example Sentences for phantasm
Tega Oghenechovwen, Longreads, 10 Aug. 2020
There, like enormous catcher’s mitts, the detectors lie in wait for extremely rare collisions between one of these lumbering phantasms and an ordinary atom.
—Rachel Courtland, IEEE Spectrum, 1 May 2014
But eventually, the duo turned the phantasm into solid logic.
—Quanta Magazine, 15 July 2021
Southern lawmakers baselessly claimed Black men were lynched for raping White women -- a phantasm that still haunts Black men -- and asserted laws governing lynchings were best left to the states.
—Eliott C. McLaughlin, CNN, 27 May 2021
See All Example Sentences for phantasm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phantasm
Noun
-
Again and again, the fantasies that fueled Trump’s candidacy are colliding with the reality of his presidency, and the result is already dispelling the illusions of many who advocated for him.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
20 Feb. 2025
-
The panic party was a dangerous gamble designed to support the illusion that a ship had been abandoned.—
Sean Kingsley,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
An iconic apex predator appeared through thick fog like an apparition and cautiously watched a photographer in Yellowstone National Park, stunning video shows.—
Brooke Baitinger,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Feb. 2025
-
Narrow beams of sunlight illuminate the torched frame of a single chair – like an apparition of the torturer who once stood there.—
Scott Peterson,
The Christian Science Monitor,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The dream of earning a spot in the playoffs fell apart after getting beaten by the Washington Commanders in Week Eight on a Hail Mary from eventual rookie of the year Jayden Daniels to a wide open Noah Brown.—
Steve Silverman,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Winning a World Series is every player's dream, but nobody will shy away from winning an MVP or Cy Young.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
In the epic fifth and final season, Joe Goldberg returns to New York to enjoy his happily ever after… until his perfect life is threatened by the ghosts of his past and his own dark desires.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
25 Feb. 2025
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In addition to Neftalí and her bandmates, there is her mother, who appears as a ghost, and her mother’s former lover Bettina, who helped instill Neftalí’s love of books.—
David L. Ulin,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
One Oiler almost went with the two superstars but wanted Mattias Ekholm’s poise and vision.—
Daniel Nugent-Bowman,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
-
Running a $10 billion district with more than 44,000 employees and 320,000 students demands a firm grasp of budgeting, a clear long-term vision and relentless focus on student outcomes.—
Sendhil Revuluri,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The sonic phantoms that have long plagued The View have finally wafted over to terrorize the set of Live With Kelly and Mark.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
18 Feb. 2025
-
The results showed clear differences in signal quality: The phantom simulating dry skin had a lower signal-to-noise ratio, while the hydrated skin phantom showed better signal clarity.—
Krittika Goyal,
The Conversation,
29 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The story is a grim reminder that every narcissist needs their own Echo, a loyal admirer who reinforces their delusions and self-importance.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
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In fact, on several prior occasions, Lam had dealt with hallucinations and delusions after not taking her medications.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Conor’s passionately absorbing, poignantly observed self-refraction from individuality into idiosyncrasy lends his very reality an air of unreality.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
7 Feb. 2025
-
The unreality of the present moment should be a boon for artists and all who deal in the imagination.—
Dean Kissick,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Phantasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phantasm. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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