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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 Looking for a perfume that’s fabulous on its own, but also plays well with other scents for layering? Kiana Murden, Vogue, 20 May 2025 The property, which was built by Davis inventor, engineer and entrepreneur Grayson Beck in 2004, includes a fabulous main residence that unfolds across 7,225 square feet of living space with four bedrooms and four bathrooms. David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 19 May 2025 Stickers from fabulous destinations and hotels adorn the bags. Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025 Chandelier Similarly, pony beads can be used to make fabulous, maximalist chandeliers. Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 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
  • The scoring sequence followed a lovely Bobrovsky save on a shorthanded odd-man rush — the Cats firing on all cylinders.
    Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025
  • Why the lovely Mehri falls for such a loser — Hamid is one of the least charming grooms in recent memory — can only by explained by the lack of options available to her.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 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
  • The Scheme To carry out the fraud scheme, the defendants and their co-conspirators created fictitious employers and lists of alleged employees—those lists were generated using personally identifiable information (PII) gleaned from thousands of identity theft victims.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • The girl is in the Brazilian capital, but the headset transports her to a fictitious Indigenous village in the Atlantic rainforest, where capybaras and jaguars dart across the landscape.
    Constance Malleret, Christian Science Monitor, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • The enchanting espionage comedy flaunts an excellent Benicio del Toro as a 1950s industrialist, who, after surviving an attempt on his life, names his estranged daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton) as heir to his empire.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 May 2025
  • Give your wooden nickel to the mixologist, take your pick between La Babia, an excellent margarita, or Three Emmas, grab a book off the shelf, and take a seat.
    Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • The film simultaneously functions as a passing-of-the-torch moment between two legendary stars and a celebration of Newman, who won his only (and long-overdue) Oscar for his performance.
    Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 24 May 2025
  • The legendary rapper, 55, has partnered with the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk since 2021 to change the stigma surrounding obesity and educate people about its connection to cardiovascular diseases.
    Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • Draw an imaginary line from the magnitude 2.3 star Merak, which forms the outer base of the 'bowl', through Dubhe, the star positioned as the 'pouring tip' of the asterism.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 20 May 2025
  • The mastermind behind covert action, Frank Wisner, never paused to consider that his cure for defeating an imaginary worldwide communist conspiracy was worse than the disease.
    Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 15 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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