Fantastic vs. Wonderful — What's the Difference?

Imaginary or fanciful; not based on reality.

Inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration; extremely good.

Extremely large or intense.

Excellent in every way.

Enthusiastically positive.

Marvelous or amazing.

Extraordinarily good or attractive.

Surpassing what is expected; remarkable.

Very strange or unusual.

Full of wonder; awe-inspiring.

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.

Inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration; extremely good; marvellous

Based on or existing only in fantasy; unreal

Admirable or very good; excellent or splendid

Strange or fanciful in form, conception, or appearance

Capable of eliciting wonder; astonishing

Unrealistic; irrational

Tending to excite wonder; surprising, extraordinary.

Exceedingly great in size or degree; extravagant

Surprisingly excellent; very good or admirable, extremely impressive.

Wonderful or superb; remarkable

(dialect) Exceedingly, to a great extent.

An eccentric person.

Adapted to excite wonder or admiration; surprising; strange; astonishing.

Existing in or constructed from fantasy; of or relating to fantasy; fanciful.

Extraordinarily good; used especially as intensifiers;

Not believable; implausible; seemingly only possible in fantasy.

Resembling fantasies in irregularity, caprice, or eccentricity; irregular; grotesque.

Wonderful; marvelous; excellent; extraordinarily good or great (used especially as an intensifier).

(archaic) A fanciful or whimsical person.

Existing only in imagination; fanciful; imaginary; not real; chimerical.

Having the nature of a phantom; unreal.

Indulging the vagaries of imagination; whimsical; full of absurd fancies; capricious; as, fantastic minds; a fantastic mistress.

Resembling fantasies in irregularity, caprice, or eccentricity; irregular; oddly shaped; grotesque.

A person given to fantastic dress, manners, etc.; an eccentric person; a fop.

Ludicrously odd;

Extraordinarily good; used especially as intensifiers;

Extravagantly fanciful and unrealistic; foolish;

Existing in fancy only;

Exceedingly or unbelievably great;

No, "wonderful" is inherently positive and used to describe things that are pleasing or admirable.

Yes, in casual conversation, both can be used to express high levels of satisfaction or pleasure.

"Fantastic" comes from "fantasy," suggesting unreality, while "wonderful" stems from "wonder," implying awe or admiration.

"Fantastic" may seem too informal for some formal contexts; a word like "excellent" might be more appropriate.

"Fantastic" can seem stronger due to its hyperbolic nature, while "wonderful" is deeply heartfelt.

"Fantastic" is commonly used in genres like fantasy, science fiction, and magical realism, where extraordinary elements are central to the narrative.

"Fantastic" might evoke excitement and surprise, focusing on the extraordinary, whereas "wonderful" often evokes a warm, gratifying sense of joy and satisfaction.

Yes, like many positive adjectives, "wonderful" can be used sarcastically in contexts where the speaker actually means the opposite.

"Fantastic" is used frequently in everyday language, particularly when people want to emphasize an unusually positive experience or result.

Someone might choose "wonderful" over "fantastic" when they want to express a sense of deep, heartfelt appreciation without the exaggeration that can come with "fantastic".

Synonyms for "fantastic" include "marvelous," "terrific," and "incredible," while "wonderful" shares synonyms such as "marvelous," "splendid," and "magnificent".

In both dialects, "fantastic" can have similar meanings, but it may be perceived as slightly more informal in British English.

In poetry, "fantastic" and "wonderful" can be used interchangeably to some extent, but the choice depends on the imagery or emotion the poet wishes to convey. "Fantastic" might be preferred for more imaginative or exaggerated scenarios, while "wonderful" might be used for more emotionally resonant or realistic descriptions.

"Wonderful" is generally more appropriate for professional reviews as it conveys genuine quality without the potential hyperbole of "fantastic".

Yes, both can describe people, typically praising their characteristics or actions. "Fantastic" might focus on exceptional abilities or achievements, while "wonderful" might emphasize admirable qualities or impact.