mythical
Americanadjective
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pertaining to, of the nature of, or involving a myth.
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dealt with in myth, as a prehistoric period.
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dealing with myths, as writing.
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existing only in myth, as a person.
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without foundation in fact; imaginary; fictitious.
The explanation was entirely mythical.
adjective
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of or relating to myth
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imaginary or fictitious
Other Word Forms
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mythicalnessnoun
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nonmythicaladjective
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premythicaladjective
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pseudomythicaladjective
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quasi-mythicaladjective
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semimythicadjective
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semimythicaladjective
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unmythicaladjective
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mythicallyadverb
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nonmythicallyadverb
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pseudomythicallyadverb
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quasi-mythicallyadverb
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semimythicallyadverb
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unmythicallyadverb
Etymology
Origin of mythical
1670–80; < Late Latin mȳthicus < Greek mȳthikós of myths ( see myth, -ic) + -al 1
Explanation
Mythical means from myth, fables, or other traditional stories. A mythical story has no basis in historical events. Sometimes someone whose deeds far outshine others is referred to as mythical. There are a number of mythical animals that inhabit stories from around the globe. A white horse with a horn protruding from its forehead, the unicorn, is a mythical beast that is very popular worldwide. Much of Western art takes mythical stories, gods, goddesses, or other spirit creatures as subject matter.
Vocabulary lists containing mythical
100 SAT Words Beginning with "M"
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Gong Xi Fa Cai! Vocabulary for the Lunar New Year
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Explorers: Triumphs and Troubles
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We have literally and metaphorically tried to erase our actual history in favor of a mythical past that never existed — even in bad LSD trips.
From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2026
On the opening “The Outlaw Cherie Lee,” as if sitting around a campfire, actor Jamie Foxx introduces the mythical story.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
The post-apocalyptic, jazzy New Orleans-style “Hadestown,” written by Anaïs Mitchell, is a mythical love story that follows young lovers Orpheus and Eurydice and the rulers of the underworld, Hades and Persephone.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
Its rarity and beauty earned it a near mythical reputation.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 12, 2026
When I look closer, she has feathers growing from her hair, too, like a mythical creature from the ocean transforming into a bird.
From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
