mythical

[ mith-i-kuhl ]

See synonyms for mythical on Thesaurus.com

adjective

pertaining to, of the nature of, or involving a myth.
dealt with in myth, as a prehistoric period.

dealing with myths, as writing.
existing only in myth, as a person.
without foundation in fact; imaginary; fictitious: The explanation was entirely mythical.

Origin of mythical

1670–80; <Late Latin mȳthicus<Greek mȳthikós of myths (see myth, -ic) + -al¹

Also myth·ic [mith-ik] /ˈmɪθ ɪk/ .

Other words from mythical

myth·i·cal·ly, adverb
myth·i·cal·ness, noun
non·myth·i·cal, adjective
non·myth·i·cal·ly, adverb
pre·myth·i·cal, adjective
pseu·do·myth·i·cal, adjective
pseu·do·myth·i·cal·ly, adverb
qua·si-myth·i·cal, adjective
qua·si-myth·i·cal·ly, adverb
sem·i·myth·ic, adjective
sem·i·myth·i·cal, adjective
sem·i·myth·i·cal·ly, adverb
un·myth·i·cal, adjective
un·myth·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with mythical

mythical , mythological

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use mythical in a sentence

The mythic origin of the feast was the creation of the world by the god Marduk.
New Year’s Eve, Babylon Style | Candida Moss | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Imagining novels as biological specimens creates a crazed and mythic zoology of hybrids, beasts, mutants, and aberrations.
The Birth of the Novel | Nick Romeo | November 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Movements of all kind create mythic histories, and institutions of all kinds do what they can to control these founding stories.
God vs. the Internet. And the Winner is… | Michael Schulson | November 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Partly because Ben was as naturally and effortlessly impeccable as Astaire or Cary Grant, or any other mythic style-setter.
Ben Bradlee Was the Last of the Newspaper Giants | Tom Shales | October 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Even his alliterative name had mythic qualities: Ben Bradlee.
Ben Bradlee Was the Last of the Newspaper Giants | Tom Shales | October 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

This animal is also a favourite mythic form of expression in Merlin's famous prophesy.
Traditions, Superstitions and Folk-lore | Charles Hardwick
Sometimes, in these legends, the very names of the Teutonic mythic personages are preserved.
Nooks and Corners of English Life, Past and Present | John Timbs
With the battle of Bravalla the mythic age of Denmark and the North comes to an end.
ZigZag Journeys in Northern Lands; | Hezekiah Butterworth
Of the mythic age I suppose almost every circumstance to have been imported, and adopted; or else to be a fable.
A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology. Volume II. (of VI.) | Jacob Bryant
It differs entirely from the Irish legends which I have heard on the subject—and is of a truly mythic character.
George Borrow and His Circle | Clement King Shorter

British Dictionary definitions for mythical

mythical

mythic (ˈmɪθɪk)

/ (ˈmɪθɪkəl) /

adjective

of or relating to myth
imaginary or fictitious

Derived forms of mythical

mythically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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