Cool MateAmazing vs Astonishing vs Fantastic vs Incredible vs They were like wow vs Unbelievable
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Amazing
Astonishing
Fantastic
Incredible
They were like wow
Unbelievable
| Amazing | Astonishing | Fantastic | Incredible | They were like wow | Unbelievable | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈmeɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈmeɪzɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈstɒnɪʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈstɑːnɪʃɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/fænˈtæstɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fænˈtæstɪk/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkredəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðeɪ wə lʌɪk waʊ//🇺🇸 //ðeɪ wɜr laɪk waʊ// | 🇬🇧 //ʌn.bɪˈliː.və.bəl//🇺🇸 //ʌn.bɪˈlivə.bəl// |
| 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. | Not able to be believed; hard to accept as true. |
| 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. | His story about climbing Everest without oxygen was simply unbelievable. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very 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 | unbelievable story, unbelievable situation, unbelievable coincidence, unbelievable talent, unbelievable prices |
| Antonyms | ordinary, unremarkable, boring | unimpressive, ordinary, mundane | terrible, awful, bad | ordinary, common, unremarkable | - | credible, believable, plausible |
| 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. | Confused with 'incredible' - both mean similar things but can have different connotations., Used too casually in serious contexts., Often mispronounced by stressing the wrong syllable. |
| 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. | Used to express astonishment or disbelief. It can be positive or negative depending on context (e.g., an unbelievable achievement vs. an unbelievable lie). |
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Frequently asked questions: Amazing vs Astonishing vs Fantastic vs Incredible vs They were like wow vs Unbelievable
What's the difference between Amazing, Astonishing, Fantastic, Incredible, They were like wow, and Unbelievable?
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. Unbelievable: Not able to be believed; hard to accept as true.
Which is more advanced: Amazing, Astonishing, Fantastic, Incredible, They were like wow, and Unbelievable?
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. Unbelievable: His story about climbing Everest without oxygen was simply unbelievable.
Can I use Amazing, Astonishing, Fantastic, Incredible, They were like wow, and Unbelievable interchangeably?
Not always. Amazing, Astonishing, Fantastic, Incredible, They were like wow, and Unbelievable 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.