special effects

NOUN

special film techniques

Synonyms

WEAK

FX animation mechanical effects optical effects process photography

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Remember that 1966 sci-fi movie “Fantastic Voyage,” set inside a human body, the special effects groundbreaking though still analogue?

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026

"Young people think they're adding special effects, when in fact they're cramping the style."

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

In contrast, working on Mercy was "like a long performance of a two or three-act stage play", but "with special effects on a par with any of the great big blockbusters".

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2026

Mr. Birney has a mesmerizing ability to create special effects via the simplest measures, such as by creating a shimmering, magical figure out of what looks like simply an overexposed bit of film.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

“She thought it was scary, no matter how fake the special effects were.”

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan