mythical

adjective

myth·​i·​cal ˈmi-thi-kəl How to pronounce mythical (audio)
variants or mythic
ˈmi-thik How to pronounce mythical (audio)
Synonyms of mythicalnext
1
: based on or described in a myth especially as contrasted with history
2
usually mythical : existing only in the imagination : fictitious, imaginary
constructed a mythical all-star team
3
usually mythic : having qualities suitable to myth : legendary
the twilight of a mythic professional career—Clayton Riley
mythically
ˈmi-thi-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce mythical (audio)
adverb

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for mythical

fictitious, fabulous, legendary, mythical, apocryphal mean having the nature of something imagined or invented.

fictitious implies fabrication and suggests artificiality or contrivance more than deliberate falsification or deception.

fictitious characters

fabulous stresses the marvelous or incredible character of something without necessarily implying impossibility or actual nonexistence.

a land of fabulous riches

legendary suggests the elaboration of invented details and distortion of historical facts produced by popular tradition.

the legendary exploits of Davy Crockett

mythical implies a purely fanciful explanation of facts or the creation of beings and events out of the imagination.

mythical creatures

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

Examples of mythical in a Sentence

Hercules was a mythical hero who was half man and half god. gods fighting in a mythical battle in the sky The sportswriters picked a mythical all-star team. The benefits of the new policy proved to be mythical.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Jones says that mythical golden age was mainly for white Christians who did not have to share the wealth, culture and political power with people of color. —Russell Contreras, Axios, 2 Nov. 2024 Like Joe, the Lioness series continues to run on the mythical boomer centrist’s vague distrust in our institutions undercut by a resounding belief in the fractured American white-hat mythos. —Andy Andersen, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024 Alebrijes: Even the dead need a spiritual guide Pedro Linares, an artist in Mexico City, introduced the celebration to colorful, mythical creatures known as Alebrijes in 1936. —Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Courier-Journal, 1 Nov. 2024 This latest discovery spotlights the ornate decorations that rich Romans enjoyed in their homes – several frescoes depict mythical scenes and others are decorated with plant and animal motifs on a white background. —Issy Ronald, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mythical 

Word History

Etymology

mythical, from Late Latin mȳthicus "of myth, legendary" (borrowed from Greek mȳthikós, from mŷthos "utterance, tale, myth" + -ikos -ic entry 1) + -al entry 1; mythic, borrowed from Late Latin mȳthicus

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mythical was in 1610

Dictionary Entries Near mythical

mythi

mythical

mythicalness

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Mythical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mythical. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

mythical

adjective
myth·​i·​cal ˈmith-i-kəl How to pronounce mythical (audio)
variants or mythic
ˈmith-ik How to pronounce mythical (audio)
1
: based on, described in, or being a myth
Hercules is a mythical hero
2
: existing only in the imagination : imaginary
the author created a mythical town
mythically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce mythical (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on mythical

Nglish: Translation of mythical for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of mythical for Arabic Speakers

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