Cool MateAmazing vs Astonishing vs Fantastic vs Incredible vs They were like wow
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Amazing
Astonishing
Fantastic
Incredible
They were like wow
| Amazing | Astonishing | Fantastic | Incredible | They were like wow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈmeɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈmeɪzɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈstɒnɪʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈstɑːnɪʃɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/fænˈtæstɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fænˈtæstɪk/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðeɪ wə lʌɪk waʊ//🇺🇸 //ðeɪ wɜr laɪk waʊ// |
| Meaning | very good or impressive | Very surprising or amazing. | Really great or awesome. | Very surprising or hard to believe. | They were very surprised or impressed. |
| Example | The view from the mountain top was simply amazing. | She ran 100m in an astonishing 10.6 seconds. | The movie was absolutely fantastic and I enjoyed every moment of it. | The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! | When I saw the stunning sunset, I was like wow. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B2 | A1 | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective | adjective | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, look, sound, absolutely, pretty, rather, be nothing short of amazing | be, seem, find something, really, truly, absolutely | be, feel, look, really, truly, utterly, be, look, seem, rather | be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to, be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to | were like wow, felt like wow, sounded like wow, looked like wow, said like wow |
| Antonyms | ordinary, unremarkable, boring | unimpressive, ordinary, mundane | terrible, awful, bad | ordinary, common, unremarkable | - |
| Common mistakes | Overusing it for average things., Confusing it with 'amaze' as a verb., Using it in negative contexts incorrectly. | Used too casually in informal situations., Confused with 'astonished', which describes a feeling rather than something that causes astonishment., Overused in contexts where 'surprising' or 'impressive' might be more appropriate. | Using 'fantastic' to describe negative things, which is incorrect., Mixing up 'fantastic' with 'fantastical', which means imaginary or whimsical., Think it's only for extraordinary situations; it can also be used for nice, everyday experiences. | Using 'incredible' as a noun instead of an adjective., Confusing 'incredible' with 'incredulous' (which means unable to believe)., Overusing 'incredible' to describe everyday situations. | Using in formal writing or speeches., Confusing 'like' as a filler word with its intended meaning., Omitting context which may clarify the surprise. |
| Usage notes | Use 'amazing' to describe something that exceeds expectations. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but avoid using it excessively in formal writing. | Use 'astonishing' to describe something that causes great surprise or wonder. It's suitable for both spoken and written contexts, but may be less common in casual everyday conversations. | Use 'fantastic' in everyday conversation to express that something is very good. It's appropriate for most contexts but can feel overly enthusiastic in formal writing. | Use 'incredible' to describe something amazing or extraordinary. It is appropriate in both casual and serious contexts, but avoid it in overly formal writing. | Commonly used in casual conversations to express amazement or excitement. Avoid in formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Amazing vs Astonishing vs Fantastic vs Incredible vs They were like wow
What's the difference between Amazing, Astonishing, Fantastic, Incredible, and They were like wow?
Amazing: very good or impressive Astonishing: Very surprising or amazing. Fantastic: Really great or awesome. Incredible: Very surprising or hard to believe. They were like wow: They were very surprised or impressed.
Which is more advanced: Amazing, Astonishing, Fantastic, Incredible, and They were like wow?
Astonishing is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Amazing: The view from the mountain top was simply amazing. Astonishing: She ran 100m in an astonishing 10.6 seconds. Fantastic: The movie was absolutely fantastic and I enjoyed every moment of it. Incredible: The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! They were like wow: When I saw the stunning sunset, I was like wow.
Can I use Amazing, Astonishing, Fantastic, Incredible, and They were like wow interchangeably?
Not always. Amazing, Astonishing, Fantastic, Incredible, and They were like wow are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.