PHANTASM Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

phantasm

noun

ˈfan-ˌta-zəm

variants also fantasm

Definition of phantasm

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

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

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 phantasm No one had meant more to Miami during the past three years, devoting themselves to painstakingly lifting a program plump with the phantasm of a reign long past. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 20 Jan. 2026 In times of increasing cynicism and apathy in the zeitgeist, this phantasm extravaganza — at once humorously deadpan in its playful tableaus and poignantly sincere at its emotional core — feels like a breath of fresh air. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 2025 But is the gender phantasm as crucial to the global far right as Butler claims? — Katha Pollitt, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2024 Likewise, Poe’s devilish ambiguity, his production of phantasms both real and imagined, undergirds James’s own ventures into the genre. — Phillip MacIak, The New Republic, 11 Oct. 2023 See All Example Sentences for phantasm

Recent Examples of Synonyms for phantasm

Noun

Christy orchestrates the elaborate stagecraft that sells the illusion of a bustling organization.

— Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
When the team built a setup to directly quantify real-time heat flux alongside electrical output, the theoretical illusions collapsed.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of illusion

Noun

One is Eye Witness (1987), a wintry landscape of two figures who seem to look away from an apparition of sorts; a skyscraper in the distance bears a resemblance to the Empire State Building.

— Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
For evening observers, this apparition has been more frustrating than triumphant, with Venus lingering low in the glow of twilight instead of climbing into a commanding position.

— Joe Rao, Space.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of apparition

Noun

There are cellars with vintages dating back to the 1880s and old wine caves covered in mildew and mold, which were a dream for a wine lover like me.

— Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Oct. 2026
Bilal, who wrote, directed and co-produced the film, said a French theatrical run was a dream come true.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of dream

Noun

That’s all before setting aside the time to manage a fantasy football roster, oversee a gambling hobby, or make sure you’re fully briefed for the next all-hands—sorry, hangout—at the bar.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Cinema employees help with laundry, cleaning, maintenance, and guests’ needs — meaning the staff behind the L’Amour fantasy have a whole property to look after on top of everything else.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of fantasy

Noun

Shoes also embraced a more playful and expressive spirit, with jewels, bows, flowers, bold prints and vibrant colors.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Spending time together brings out their humor and fighting spirit, alongside emotional stories and traditions passed down through generations.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of spirit

Noun

Walking through prewar Berlin, taking in its historic architecture, Susanna daydreams of her native New York, an ever-changing city where buildings are torn down and rebuilt in the blink of an eye.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
It's inspired by Snoopy's daydream of being the coolest beagle on campus.

— Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of daydream

Noun

Fadal brought up her own phantom smells during a recent podcast conversation with Andrea Donsky, a nutritionist who’s written about and conducted research on this symptom.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 26 Aug. 2026
Both phantoms were packed with thousands of dosimeters, tracking radiation dose over specific phases of the flight rather than just a cumulative total.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026