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
Derived Forms
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nonmythicallyadverb
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mythicalnessnoun
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semimythicaladjective
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mythicallyadverb
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premythicaladjective
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pseudomythicallyadverb
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quasi-mythicaladjective
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semimythicadjective
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quasi-mythicallyadverb
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pseudomythicaladjective
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unmythicaladjective
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nonmythicaladjective
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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.
By contrast, the mythical figure of the Wandering Jew was condemned to roam the earth without rest until the second coming of Christ.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
The name Vasuki indicus honors the mythical serpent associated with the Hindu deity Shiva, as well as the country where the fossil was found.
From Science Daily • Apr. 29, 2026
Yet for all the mythical qualities of Apollo, Jack Kiraly, director of government relations at the Planetary Society, said "nostalgia" perhaps "glosses over some of the issues that the program at the time faced."
From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026
Suleimani was powerful and viewed as a national hero in Iran, and his mythical status grew even more in death.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026
The times, the seasons, the signs may have been mythical; but the sufferings were not.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
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.
