Cool MateExcellent vs Fantastic vs Remarkable vs Superb vs Terrific
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excellent
Fantastic
Remarkable
Superb
Terrific
| Excellent | Fantastic | Remarkable | Superb | Terrific | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/fænˈtæstɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fænˈtæstɪk/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈmɑːkəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈmɑːrkəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/suːˈpɜːb/"]/🇺🇸 /["/suːˈpɜːrb/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/təˈrɪfɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/təˈrɪfɪk/"]/ |
| Meaning | very good or great | Really great or awesome. | Very special or unusual, worth noticing. | very good or excellent | Very good or excellent. |
| Example | Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. | The movie was absolutely fantastic and I enjoyed every moment of it. | The scientist made a remarkable discovery that changed the field forever. | a superb player | She did a terrific job presenting her project to the class. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A1 | B2 | C1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective | adjective | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | appear, be, look, most, really, truly, at, for | be, feel, look, really, truly, utterly, be, look, seem, rather | be, seem, absolutely, just, most, for | be, look, sound, really, absolutely, quite | terrific job, terrific idea, terrific time, terrific experience, terrific performance |
| Antonyms | poor, bad, substandard | terrible, awful, bad | ordinary, unremarkable, mundane | poor, mediocre, bad | terrible, awful, bad, dreadful |
| Common mistakes | Using 'excellent' in a negative context (e.g. 'That was an excellent mistake')., Confusing 'excellent' with 'excellently' (adverb form) in the wrong context., Overusing it when 'good' or 'fine' would suffice. | 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. | Confused with 'remarkable' and 'notable', which have subtle differences in connotation., Using 'remarkable' in a negative context, which doesn't fit its positive meaning., Overusing it; it can sound exaggerated if used too frequently. | Confused with 'superb' and 'superbowl', Using 'superb' in negative contexts, Overusing it in casual settings | Confuse with 'terrible', which means the opposite., Use it too casually in formal or serious contexts., Use it to describe something bad. |
| Usage notes | Use 'excellent' to describe something that is of very high quality. It is appropriate in both spoken and written English. Avoid using it in overly casual contexts where simpler terms might be more fitting. | 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 'remarkable' to describe something that is impressive, surprising, or extraordinary. It is neutral in tone, so it can be used in most contexts, including both spoken and written language. Avoid using it in overly casual conversations where simpler terms may suffice. | Use 'superb' in positive contexts to describe things that are exceptionally good, often with a touch of elegance. Avoid in casual or everyday speech, where simpler words like 'great' are more common. | Used to express enthusiasm or positivity, often in informal contexts. Avoid using in overly serious or formal discussions. |
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Frequently asked questions: Excellent vs Fantastic vs Remarkable vs Superb vs Terrific
What's the difference between Excellent, Fantastic, Remarkable, Superb, and Terrific?
Excellent: very good or great Fantastic: Really great or awesome. Remarkable: Very special or unusual, worth noticing. Superb: very good or excellent Terrific: Very good or excellent.
Which is more formal: Excellent, Fantastic, Remarkable, Superb, and Terrific?
Superb is the most formal of these.
Are Excellent, Fantastic, Remarkable, Superb, and Terrific the same CEFR level?
Excellent: A2, Fantastic: A1, Remarkable: B2, Superb: C1, Terrific: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Excellent, Fantastic, Remarkable, Superb, and Terrific?
Excellent: adjective, Fantastic: adjective, Remarkable: adjective, Superb: adjective, Terrific: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Excellent: Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. Fantastic: The movie was absolutely fantastic and I enjoyed every moment of it. Remarkable: The scientist made a remarkable discovery that changed the field forever. Superb: a superb player Terrific: She did a terrific job presenting her project to the class.
Can I use Excellent, Fantastic, Remarkable, Superb, and Terrific interchangeably?
Not always. Excellent, Fantastic, Remarkable, Superb, and Terrific 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.