Fabulous vs. Fantastic — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on March 27, 2024
Fabulous is often used to describe something as extraordinary, almost unbelievable in its appeal or qualities, while fantastic emphasizes something being very good or impressive, often beyond the ordinary.
Difference Between Fabulous and Fantastic
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Key Differences
Fabulous conveys a sense of incredible attractiveness or exceptional appeal, usually with a touch of glamour or extravagance. It suggests something is so good it almost seems like a fantasy. On the other hand, fantastic is used to describe something that is extremely good or impressive, often implying it surpasses ordinary expectations or norms.
While both terms are used to express high praise, fabulous often carries a more stylish or glamorous connotation, making it a popular choice in contexts related to fashion, beauty, or incredible experiences. Fantastic, meanwhile, is more versatile, used to describe anything from great success, wonderful feelings, to impressive achievements, without necessarily implying a sense of luxury or glamour.
The origin of fabulous comes from "fable," indicating something so amazing that it resembles a story or myth, whereas fantastic originates from "fantasy," highlighting its roots in imagination or the extraordinary. This etymological difference subtly influences their contemporary usage, with fabulous sometimes implying a touch of incredibility or exaggeration.
In casual conversation, the choice between fabulous and fantastic can also reflect personal style or the speaker's intent to convey a certain level of enthusiasm. While both are positive, fabulous might be chosen for an extra layer of flair or sophistication, whereas fantastic might be preferred for its emphasis on sheer excellence or enjoyment.
Culturally, fabulous has been embraced in various subcultures to signify a flamboyant or extravagant quality that defies norms, whereas fantastic is universally recognized as a broad expression of admiration, making it applicable in a wider range of contexts without specific cultural connotations.
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Comparison Chart
Connotation
Extraordinary appeal, glamour
Very good or impressive, exceeds norms
Context
Fashion, beauty, luxury experiences
Broad use, including achievements, feelings
Origin
From "fable," implies a touch of the unbelievable
From "fantasy," rooted in the extraordinary
Usage
Implies stylishness, sophistication
Emphasizes excellence, enjoyment
Cultural Significance
Often used to signify flamboyance or extravagance
Broad admiration, lacks specific cultural ties
Compare with Definitions
Fabulous
Extraordinarily attractive or appealing, often with a sense of glamour.
The gala event was a fabulous display of elegance and style.
Fantastic
Can signify something imaginative or fanciful, yet achievable.
His ideas for the new book are fantastic, blending reality with fantasy.
Fabulous
Used to describe something that stands out in style or execution.
His sense of fashion is simply fabulous, always on trend.
Fantastic
Describes something that invokes a sense of wonder or admiration.
The panoramic views from the mountain were absolutely fantastic.
Fabulous
Implies something almost unbelievable in its excellence.
She had a fabulous time at the premiere, surpassing all her expectations.
Fantastic
Often used to express extreme satisfaction or pleasure.
Their dinner out was fantastic, from the food to the service.
Fabulous
Sometimes denotes an exaggerated level of greatness.
The stories of his adventures sounded almost too fabulous to be true.
Fantastic
Broadly applicable across contexts without implying luxury.
Finding a solution that quickly was fantastic, solving the issue without fuss.
Fabulous
Associated with luxury or high-quality experiences.
They stayed at a fabulous hotel with breathtaking views.
Fantastic
Extremely good or impressive, exceeding ordinary standards.
She received fantastic feedback on her project, highlighting its innovation.
Fabulous
Extremely pleasing or successful
A fabulous vacation.
Fantastic
The fantastic (French: le fantastique) is a subgenre of literary works characterized by the ambiguous presentation of seemingly supernatural forces. Bulgarian-French structuralist literary critic Tzvetan Todorov originated the concept, characterizing the fantastic as the hesitation of characters and readers when presented with questions about reality.
Fabulous
Astonishing or extraordinary
The fabulous endurance of a marathon runner.
Fantastic
Based on or existing only in fantasy; unreal
Fantastic mythological creatures.
The fantastic realms of science fiction.
Fabulous
Of the nature of a fable or myth; legendary.
Fantastic
Strange or fanciful in form, conception, or appearance
“The fire assumed fantastic shapes as he watched” (Ward Just).
Fabulous
Told of or celebrated in fables or legends.
Fantastic
Unrealistic; irrational
“the early jubilant years of the Restoration with their fantastic hopes of a Golden Age and incorruptible power” (Janet Todd).
Fabulous
Of or relating to fable, myth or legend.
Fantastic
Exceedingly great in size or degree; extravagant
A fantastic sum of money.
Fabulous
Characteristic of fables; marvelous, extraordinary, incredible.
Fantastic
Wonderful or superb; remarkable
A fantastic trip to Europe.
Fabulous
Fictional or not believable; made up.
Fantastic
An eccentric person.
Fabulous
(obsolete) Known for telling fables or falsehoods; unreliable.
Fantastic
Existing in or constructed from fantasy; of or relating to fantasy; fanciful.
He told fantastic stories of dragons and goblins.
His fantastic post-college plans had all collapsed within a year of graduation.
She had a fantastic view of her own importance that none of her colleagues shared.
Fabulous
(slang) Very good; outstanding, wonderful.
Fantastic
Not believable; implausible; seemingly only possible in fantasy.
The events were so fantastic that only the tabloids were willing to print them.
She entered the lab and stood gaping for a good ten minutes at the fantastic machinery at work all around her.
Fabulous
Gay or pertaining to gay people.
Fantastic
Resembling fantasies in irregularity, caprice, or eccentricity; irregular; grotesque.
Fabulous
(slang) Camp, effeminate.
Fantastic
Wonderful; marvelous; excellent; extraordinarily good or great (used especially as an intensifier).
"I had a simply fantastic vacation, and I can't wait to tell you all about it!"
Fabulous
(slang) Fashionable, glamorous.
Fantastic
(archaic) A fanciful or whimsical person.
Fabulous
Feigned, as a story or fable; related in fable; devised; invented; not real; fictitious; as, a fabulous description; a fabulous hero.
The fabulous birth of Minerva.
Fantastic
Existing only in imagination; fanciful; imaginary; not real; chimerical.
Fabulous
Beyond belief; exceedingly great; as, a fabulous price.
Fantastic
Having the nature of a phantom; unreal.
Fabulous
Extremely pleasing;
A fabulous vacation
Fantastic
Indulging the vagaries of imagination; whimsical; full of absurd fancies; capricious; as, fantastic minds; a fantastic mistress.
Fabulous
Based on or told of in traditional stories; lacking factual basis or historical validity;
Mythical centaurs
The fabulous unicorn
Fantastic
Resembling fantasies in irregularity, caprice, or eccentricity; irregular; oddly shaped; grotesque.
There at the foot of yonder nodding beech,That wreathes its old fantastic roots so high.
Fabulous
Barely credible;
The fabulous endurance of a marathon runner
Fantastic
A person given to fantastic dress, manners, etc.; an eccentric person; a fop.
Our fantastics, who, having a fine watch, take all ocasions to draw it out to be seen.
Fantastic
Ludicrously odd;
Hamlet's assumed antic disposition
Fantastic Halloween costumes
A grotesque reflection in the mirror
Fantastic
Extraordinarily good; used especially as intensifiers;
A fantastic trip to the Orient
The film was fantastic!
A howling success
A marvelous collection of rare books
Had a rattling conversation about politics
A tremendous achievement
Fantastic
Extravagantly fanciful and unrealistic; foolish;
A fantastic idea of his own importance
Fantastic
Existing in fancy only;
Fantastic figures with bulbous heads the circumference of a bushel
Fantastic
Exceedingly or unbelievably great;
The bomb did fantastic damage
Samson is supposed to have had fantastic strength
Phenomenal feats of memory
Common Curiosities
Can fabulous and fantastic be used interchangeably?
While both express positive admiration, their nuances differ; fabulous often implies glamour or extravagance, whereas fantastic emphasizes greatness or impressiveness.
What does fabulous mean?
Fabulous describes something as extraordinarily attractive or appealing, often with a glamorous or almost unbelievable quality.
What does fantastic mean?
Fantastic is used to describe something extremely good or impressive, often exceeding what is considered ordinary or expected.
Can something be both fabulous and fantastic?
Yes, something can be both fabulous and fantastic, embodying extraordinary appeal and impressiveness simultaneously.
Is fabulous only used in fashion?
While popular in fashion, fabulous is not limited to it; it's used in any context to denote extraordinary appeal or quality.
Are fabulous and fantastic outdated terms?
Neither term is outdated; both are widely used to express high levels of praise and enthusiasm.
Does fantastic imply fantasy?
Originating from "fantasy," fantastic can imply an extraordinary or imaginative quality, but it's broadly used to express admiration for something very impressive.
Which is more extravagant, fabulous or fantastic?
Fabulous often carries a connotation of extravagance or glamour, making it the more extravagant term in comparison to fantastic.
How should I choose between fabulous and fantastic when complimenting?
Consider the context: use fabulous for an extra touch of style or glamour, and fantastic for emphasizing sheer excellence or pleasure.
How do cultural perceptions of fabulous and fantastic differ?
Fabulous is sometimes tied to flamboyance or luxury, embraced in specific subcultures for its extravagant connotations. Fantastic is more universally positive, without specific cultural ties.
Can the use of fabulous be seen as exaggeration?
Sometimes, fabulous might imply an exaggeration of greatness, especially if used to describe something with a fantastical or unbelievable aspect.
How do fabulous and fantastic reflect personal style?
Choosing between fabulous and fantastic can reflect one's personal style or the intended level of enthusiasm, with fabulous adding flair and fantastic focusing on impressiveness.
Do fabulous and fantastic have different emotional impacts?
Yes, fabulous may evoke a sense of awe or sophistication, while fantastic often elicits excitement or admiration for excellence.
Is fabulous used more subjectively than fantastic?
Fabulous can be more subjective, particularly when assessing style or glamour, whereas fantastic is often used for broadly impressive qualities.
Which term is more commonly used in everyday language?
Fantastic is more commonly used in everyday language due to its broad applicability and less specific connotations compared to fabulous.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
