apocryphal

adjective

Definition of apocryphalnext
as in speculative

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How is the word apocryphal distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of apocryphal are fabulous, fictitious, legendary, and mythical. While all these words mean "having the nature of something imagined or invented," 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

When is fabulous a more appropriate choice than apocryphal?

In some situations, the words fabulous and apocryphal are roughly equivalent. However, fabulous stresses the marvelous or incredible character of something without necessarily implying impossibility or actual nonexistence.

a land of fabulous riches

When can fictitious be used instead of apocryphal?

The synonyms fictitious and apocryphal are sometimes interchangeable, but fictitious implies fabrication and suggests artificiality or contrivance more than deliberate falsification or deception.

fictitious characters

Where would legendary be a reasonable alternative to apocryphal?

The words legendary and apocryphal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, legendary suggests the elaboration of invented details and distortion of historical facts produced by popular tradition.

the legendary exploits of Davy Crockett

In what contexts can mythical take the place of apocryphal?

The meanings of mythical and apocryphal largely overlap; however, 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 apocryphal The book is apocryphal, a non-canonical text that deals with Jesus’ adolescence, something not found in the Bible. —Barry Levitt, Time, 14 Nov. 2025 Magnolia is trying just that with The Carpenter’s Son, writer and director Lotfy Nathan’s life of teenage Jesus story based on The Infancy Gospel of Thomas, a obscure apocryphal gospel. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 14 Nov. 2025 There’s an apocryphal anecdote about Hemingway being challenged to write a complete story, with all the emotional impact of one of his own short stories, in just six words. —Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025 What would be the reason to forge Dead Sea Scrolls or create the apocryphal Book of Judith. —JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for apocryphal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apocryphal
  1. speculative
  2. unauthentic
  3. hypothetical
  4. undocumented
  5. legendary
  6. theoretical
  7. fanciful
  8. mythical
Adjective
  • The crypto industry, for example, entered 2022 brimming with hope, as the pandemic helped spark a surge in trading from people stuck at home, leading to a frenzy that boosted all kinds of speculative investments, from cryptocurrencies to digital tokens called NFTs.
    — Rafael Nam, NPR, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The latter aims to ban speculative ticket sales (tickets that resellers don’t yet possess) in the state.
    — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of speculative
Adjective
  • Moore said that no matter how famous a host or a guest is, or how elaborate and slick a production is, an unauthentic product will not resonate with audiences.
    — Yahya Salem, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Inaccurate debunks Amid the recycled imagery, authentic pictures of National Guard members sleeping on the floor of a federal building in Los Angeles this week were falsely described as old or unauthentic.
    — Emma Li, CBS News, 11 June 2025
Definition of unauthentic
Adjective
  • This concern is not hypothetical.
    — Bhupinder Kaur, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
  • To define the contours of a market, the courts rely on a hypothetical monopolist test.
    — Hal Singer, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of hypothetical
Adjective
  • Solorzano, 33, was an undocumented immigrant had been twice deported to his home country of Honduras in the years leading up to the stabbing, the Observer has reported.
    — Amber Gaudet Updated February 5, Charlotte Observer, 5 Feb. 2026
  • But Homan also reiterated that immigration enforcement efforts would continue and that undocumented criminals would not be the only ones detained.
    — Hanna Park, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of undocumented
Adjective
  • On His Own Terms Playing one of fiction’s most iconic characters could feel daunting, especially with so many legendary portrayals already in the cultural consciousness.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Pat Cooligan owns multiple Renzo Gracie academies, which are named after his mentor and master instructor, one of the many Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners in the legendary Gracie family.
    — Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of legendary
Adjective
  • Palmer’s goal from open play, which involved theoretical No 10 Fernandez carrying the ball out wide, full-back Cucurella underlapping him, and Palmer finishing in the box, summed that up.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026
  • The partnership is shifting from theoretical research to the project development phase, with a focus on delivering a 50 MW commercial pilot.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of theoretical
Adjective
  • But instead of brushing out the curls, Fox left them as-is, giving her look a sweet, fanciful twist.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Carmichael began cooking in New York after moving from Barbados, celebrated in his fanciful parade of curry, coconut, and chiles.
    — Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of fanciful
Adjective
  • The series follows a teenage boy who forms an unlikely alliance with the Fairy Queen of Celtic lore to search for malevolent mythical creatures from around the world, among them the Yeti, Baba Yaga and a Lady Dracula — not to destroy them, but to save them from impending doom.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Jones portrays the fierce warrior Prince Vlad of Wallachia, who goes on to become the mythical Dracula.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of mythical

Browse Nearby Words

apocalyptic
apocryphal
apogean
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Cite this Entry

“Apocryphal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apocryphal. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on apocryphal

Nglish: Translation of apocryphal for Spanish Speakers

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