The story of Jesus Christ appearing after he was dead is the story of an apparition, such as timid imaginations can always create in vision, and credulity believe.
Source: tatoeba (1529880)
Apparition
/ˌæp.ɚˈɪʃ.n̩/
Synonyms for "apparition" (140 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (28)
Noun(3 words)
Strong matches (42)
epiphanyexposurefalse imagefancyfantasquefantasyfictionfigmentfigment of the imaginationfigureformforthcomingghostgrateful deadguidehallucinationhanthauntidle fancyidolum
Show 17 more words
illusionimageimageryimaginationimaginingimmaterialityincarnationincorporealincorporeal beingincorporeityinsubstantial imageinventionissuancelarvalemuresmaggotmake believe
Related words (70)
make-believemanesmanifestationmarshfiremasanmaterializationmaterializingmiragemythoccurrenceoniopeningphantasmphantasmaphantasmagoriaphantomphasmphenomenonpoltergeistpresence
Show 39 more words
presentationrealizationrevelationrevenantriserisingromanceshadeshadowshapeshowingshowing forthshrouded spiritsick fancyspecterspectral ghostspectrumspiritspookspritestretch of the imaginationtheophanythick-coming fanciestripumbraunfoldingunfoldmentunsubstantialityvaporvisionwaking dreamwalking dead manwandering soulwhimwhimsywildest dreamwildest dreamswraithzombie
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: phantom, specter, appearance, appearance, appearing.
- Sentence evidence is available for apparition, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "apparition".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "apparition"
Keep "apparition" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "apparition" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "apparition", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "apparition" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
6 entriesCollocations
5 entriesapparition sightingghostly apparitionpublic apparitionrare apparitionspectral apparition
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
1 entriesSample sentences
19 total sentences available.
Dreadful apparition, why do you trouble me?
Source: tatoeba (3712722)
I look out on the brilliant heaven, and see a milky way of powdery splendour wandering through it, and clusters and knots of stars and planets shining serenely in the blue frosty spaces; and the armed apparition of Orion, his spear pointing away into immeasurable space, gleaming overhead; and the familiar constellation of the Plough dipping down into the west; and I think when I go in again that there is one Christmas the less between me and my grave.
Source: tatoeba (5680781)
As the whirl of dust drew nearer to the solitary bluff upon which the two castaways were reposing, the canvas-covered tilts of waggons and the figures of armed horsemen began to show up through the haze, and the apparition revealed itself as being a great caravan upon its journey for the West.
Source: tatoeba (6310894)
Showing 4 of 19 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "apparition"?
Closest matches include phantom, specter, appearance, appearance, appearing.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "apparition"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.