Mythical — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈmi-thi-kəl/ myth·i·cal

Meaning & Definition of Mythical

Mythical (adjective)

  1. based on or described in a myth especially as contrasted with history
  2. existing only in the imagination, fictitious, imaginary
  3. having qualities suitable to myth, legendary

Mythical (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. based on, described in, or being a myth

    "for years the Spanish conquistadors searched for the mythical El Dorado, a place of unimaginable riches"

    similar: fabled, fabulous, legendary
    related: famed, romanticized, storied, chimerical, fabricated, fantastic, fictional, fictitious, fanciful, imaginary, imagined, invented, made-up, make-believe, pretend, unreal, allegorical, mythological, semilegendary
    near: actual, existent, real, real-world, historical, factual, true, attested, authenticated, confirmed, established, proven, substantiated, validated, verified, authentic, bona fide, genuine, real-life

  2. not real and existing only in the imagination

    "the mythical unicorn"

    similar: chimerical, fabulous, fanciful, fantasied, fantastic, fictional, fictitious, ideal, imaginal, imaginary, imagined, invented, made-up, make-believe, notional, phantasmal, phantasmic, phantom, pretend, unreal, visionary
    related: fabled, legendary, romantic, abstract, hypothetical, theoretical, unbelievable, unconvincing, unlikely, conceived, envisaged, envisioned, pictured, visualized, daydreamlike, deceptive, delusional, delusive, hallucinatory, illusory, phantasmagoric, concocted, fabricated, feigned, fictive, inexistent, nonexistent
    opposite: actual, existent, existing, real
    near: authentic, genuine, true, factual, verifiable, verified, believable, convincing, realistic, corporeal, material, physical, solid, substantial, palpable, tangible

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Mythical

The most common words with a similar meaning to Mythical:

fabled, fabulous, legendary, chimerical, fanciful, fantasied, fantastic, fictional, fictitious, ideal, imaginal, imaginary, imagined, invented, made-up, make-believe, notional, phantasmal, phantasmic, phantom, pretend, unreal, visionary

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Mythical

Words with the opposite meaning of Mythical:

actual, existent, existing, real

Related Words for Mythical

famed, romanticized, storied, fabricated, allegorical, mythological, semilegendary, romantic, abstract, hypothetical, theoretical, unbelievable, unconvincing, unlikely, conceived, envisaged, envisioned, pictured, visualized, daydreamlike, deceptive, delusional, delusive, hallucinatory, illusory, phantasmagoric, concocted, feigned, fictive, inexistent

Near Antonyms of Mythical

real-world, historical, factual, true, attested, authenticated, confirmed, established, proven, substantiated, validated, verified, authentic, bona fide, genuine, real-life, verifiable, believable, convincing, realistic, corporeal, material, physical, solid, substantial, palpable, tangible

Word Forms of Mythical

Derived words: mythically (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Mythical

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

First known use: 1610

Frequently Asked Questions about Mythical

What does "Mythical" mean?

"Mythical" means based on or described in a myth especially as contrasted with history. As an adjective, it is defined as: based on or described in a myth especially as contrasted with history. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Mythical"?

Other words for "Mythical" include fabled, fabulous, legendary, chimerical, fanciful, fantasied, fantastic and fictional. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Mythical" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Mythical"?

There are 54 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Mythical". Common alternatives include fabled, fabulous, legendary, chimerical, fanciful, fantasied, fantastic, fictional, fictitious and ideal.

What is the opposite of "Mythical"?

Antonyms of "Mythical" include actual, existent, existing and real. Near antonyms include real-world, historical, factual and true.

How do you use "Mythical" in a sentence?

Examples of "Mythical" in a sentence: "for years the Spanish conquistadors searched for the mythical El Dorado, a place of unimaginable riches"; "the mythical unicorn".

Is "Mythical" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Mythical" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Mythical"?

"Mythical" is pronounced /ˈmi-thi-kəl/ and divided into syllables as myth·i·cal.

What is the origin of the word "Mythical"?

"Mythical" comes from mythical, from Late Latin mȳthicus "of myth, legendary" (borrowed from Greek mȳthikós, from mŷthos "utterance, tale, myth" + -ikos -ic:1) + -al:1; mythic, borrowed from Late Latin mȳthicus. First known use: 1610.