Cool MateAmazing vs Awesome vs Fantastic vs Incredible vs Wow vs Wow great
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Amazing
Awesome
Fantastic
Incredible
Wow
Wow great
| Amazing | Awesome | Fantastic | Incredible | Wow | Wow great | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈmeɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈmeɪzɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈɔːsəm//🇺🇸 //ˈɔːsəm// | 🇬🇧 /["/fænˈtæstɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fænˈtæstɪk/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/waʊ/","/ˌwaʊˈiː/"]/🇺🇸 /["/waʊ/","/ˌwaʊˈiː/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //waʊ ɡreɪt//🇺🇸 //waʊ ɡreɪt// |
| Meaning | very good or impressive | Very good or impressive | Really great or awesome. | Very surprising or hard to believe. | A word used to express surprise or excitement. | An expression of surprise or appreciation. |
| Example | The view from the mountain top was simply amazing. | That movie was awesome! | The movie was absolutely fantastic and I enjoyed every moment of it. | The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! | Wow! You look terrific! | Wow, great job on your presentation! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal | Neutral | Neutral | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B1 | A1 | A2 | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective | adjective | adjective | exclamation | |
| Collocations | be, look, sound, absolutely, pretty, rather, be nothing short of amazing | awesome experience, awesome job, awesome view, awesome performance | be, feel, look, really, truly, utterly, be, look, seem, rather | be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to, be, seem, sound, really, truly, absolutely, to | say wow, wow factor, wow moment | Wow, great news, Wow, great view, Wow, great effort |
| Antonyms | ordinary, unremarkable, boring | terrible, awful, bad | terrible, awful, bad | ordinary, common, unremarkable | meh, bored, disappointing, unimpressed | - |
| Common mistakes | Overusing it for average things., Confusing it with 'amaze' as a verb., Using it in negative contexts incorrectly. | Used too frequently; try to vary vocabulary., Confused with 'awful', which means very bad., Overused for minor achievements. | 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 'wow' in formal writing., Saying 'wow' too often can lose its impact., Confusing 'wow' with other expressions of surprise. | Using it in a formal context, Misplacing the words, such as saying 'Great wow', Overusing in quick succession; might lose impact |
| 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. | Commonly used in casual conversation. Avoid in formal writing, where 'impressive' or 'excellent' might be more appropriate. | 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. | Use 'wow' in casual conversations to show amazement or admiration. It may not be suitable for formal settings. | Often used to convey excitement or admiration. Suitable in casual contexts but may be too informal for serious discussions. |
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Frequently asked questions: Amazing vs Awesome vs Fantastic vs Incredible vs Wow vs Wow great
What's the difference between Amazing, Awesome, Fantastic, Incredible, Wow, and Wow great?
Amazing: very good or impressive Awesome: Very good or impressive Fantastic: Really great or awesome. Incredible: Very surprising or hard to believe. Wow: A word used to express surprise or excitement. Wow great: An expression of surprise or appreciation.
Which is more advanced: Amazing, Awesome, Fantastic, Incredible, Wow, and Wow great?
Awesome is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Amazing: The view from the mountain top was simply amazing. Awesome: That movie was awesome! Fantastic: The movie was absolutely fantastic and I enjoyed every moment of it. Incredible: The magician's tricks were absolutely incredible! Wow: Wow! You look terrific! Wow great: Wow, great job on your presentation!
Can I use Amazing, Awesome, Fantastic, Incredible, Wow, and Wow great interchangeably?
Not always. Amazing, Awesome, Fantastic, Incredible, Wow, and Wow great 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.