phantasmagoric

Also phan·tas·ma·gor·i·cal
Sometimes phan·tas·ma·go·ri·al

[fan-taz-muh-gawr-ik, -gor-]

adjective

1. having a fantastic or deceptive appearance, as something in a dream or created by the imagination.

2. having the appearance of an optical illusion, especially one produced by a magic lantern.

3. changing or shifting, as a scene made up of many elements.

Other Word Forms

• phantasmagorically adverb
• phantasmagorially adverb
• phantasmagorianly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of phantasmagoric¹

First recorded in 1800–10; phantasmagor(ia) ( def. ) + -ic ( def. )

Example Sentences

The pair behind ‘Little Amélie or the Character of Rain’ discuss how they combined real-life inspiration and metaphysical subject matter in their ‘phantasmagoric’ new film.

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In crafting what Vallade calls the “phantasmagoric imagery” that conveys Amélie’s euphoria and melancholy, the color palette played a critical role.

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In phantasmagoric flashbacks, we learn that his family spilled blood in their foam.

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Ali makes these sort of phantasmagoric horror films, in a way.

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That two-and-a-half-minute-long video — Bushnell’s digital suicide note — is horrifying, phantasmagoric, and familiar in equal measure.

Read more on Salon