LEGENDARY Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'legendary' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of legendary are apocryphal , fabulous , fictitious , and mythical . While all these words mean "having the nature of something imagined or invented," legendary suggests the elaboration of invented details and distortion of historical facts produced by popular tradition. // the legendary exploits of Davy Crockett

Q: When would 'apocryphal' be a good substitute for 'legendary'?

In some situations, the words apocryphal and legendary are roughly equivalent. However, 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

Q: In what contexts can 'fabulous' take the place of 'legendary'?

While the synonyms fabulous and legendary are close in meaning, fabulous stresses the marvelous or incredible character of something without necessarily implying impossibility or actual nonexistence. // a land of fabulous riches

Q: When might 'fictitious' be a better fit than 'legendary'?

While in some cases nearly identical to legendary , fictitious implies fabrication and suggests artificiality or contrivance more than deliberate falsification or deception. // fictitious characters

Q: When could 'mythical' be used to replace 'legendary'?

The synonyms mythical and legendary are sometimes interchangeable, but mythical implies a purely fanciful explanation of facts or the creation of beings and events out of the imagination. // mythical creatures

legendary

adjective

ˈle-jən-ˌder-ē

Definition of legendary

as in mythical

based on, described in, or being a myth the unicorn is a legendary creature

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How is the word legendary distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of legendary are apocryphal, fabulous, fictitious, and mythical. While all these words mean "having the nature of something imagined or invented," legendary suggests the elaboration of invented details and distortion of historical facts produced by popular tradition.

the legendary exploits of Davy Crockett

When would apocryphal be a good substitute for legendary?

In some situations, the words apocryphal and legendary are roughly equivalent. However, 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

In what contexts can fabulous take the place of legendary?

While the synonyms fabulous and legendary are close in meaning, fabulous stresses the marvelous or incredible character of something without necessarily implying impossibility or actual nonexistence.

a land of fabulous riches

When might fictitious be a better fit than legendary?

While in some cases nearly identical to legendary, fictitious implies fabrication and suggests artificiality or contrivance more than deliberate falsification or deception.

fictitious characters

When could mythical be used to replace legendary?

The synonyms mythical and legendary are sometimes interchangeable, but mythical implies a purely fanciful explanation of facts or the creation of beings and events out of the imagination.

mythical creatures

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 legendary Bill Snyder’s second-greatest football achievement as Kansas State’s legendary head coach, after magically transforming the nation’s most moribund program into a national contender, was to choke the life from his school’s biggest rivalry game. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026 Cooler temperatures, a favorable exchange rate, and legendary hospitality make Canada one of the best-value trips right now. — Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2026 The antenna-like element towering above her head was a structured, sculptural ribbon headpiece custom-designed by the legendary British milliner Philip Treacy, who was honored with the award of excellence at the event. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 Food meccas include Pier 57 (hit Nom Wah for legendary dim sum, or LoLo’s on the Water for the fish fry) and, of course, Chelsea Market (try Miznon’s pita cheeseburger and roasted cauliflower, and Ayada’s mango sticky rice). — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for legendary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for legendary

Adjective

Waller is one of the NFL’s few mythical figures — one whose story precedes his stats, whose name supersedes his acclaim.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
With the season’s final two episodes not provided to critics, there’s no way to say yet whether The Lowdown achieves that mythical outcome of all mystery seasons, the Finale That Pulls It All Together.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of mythical

Adjective

Ahead of rocking the Pond with its classic hits, the famed norteño band brought its signature sound and activism to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
The reveal comes a little more than a month after the famed costume designer passed away at 87.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of famed

Adjective

Then, in 1882, by which time the culture of the European Grand Tour amongst wealthy British and North American youth of rank had peaked, the convent finally transmogrified into a hotel (like other convents along this fabled coast).

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
For his memorial on June 19, mourners gathered in Frankfurt’s Paulskirche, the fabled site of Germany’s nineteenth-century attempt at liberal revolution.

— Peter E. Gordon, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of fabled

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“Legendary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legendary. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of legendary

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