Synonym Chooser

How is the word think distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of think are conceive, envisage, envision, fancy, imagine, and realize. While all these words mean "to form an idea of," think implies the entrance of an idea into one's mind with or without deliberate consideration or reflection.

I just thought of a good joke

When is it sensible to use conceive instead of think?

Although the words conceive and think have much in common, conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design.

conceived of a new marketing approach

How do envisage and envision relate to one another, in the sense of think?

Both envisage and envision imply a conceiving or imagining that is especially clear or detailed.

envisaged a totally computerized operation
envisioned a cure for the disease

When is fancy a more appropriate choice than think?

The synonyms fancy and think are sometimes interchangeable, but fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

When might imagine be a better fit than think?

The words imagine and think can be used in similar contexts, but imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

When can realize be used instead of think?

In some situations, the words realize and think are roughly equivalent. However, realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of think This suggests that the Large Magellanic Cloud might have a higher concentration of ionized gas than scientists previously thought. Victoria Corless, Space.com, 11 Feb. 2025 Mino is thought to be between 2 and 3 years old and is much smaller, at about 470 pounds. Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025 Five years ago, CFOs were thinking—because many organizations were in a dire situation—what happens? Megan Poinski, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2025 Ariana Grande has seen how fans have been shipping her with Cynthia Erivo during the Wicked promotional cycle, to the point where some people think there’s actually something going on between the two stars in real life. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for think
Recent Examples of Synonyms for think
Verb
  • Venable believes the prospects gained experiences that will aid them and the club in the future.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Authorities do not believe that Thompson was present when John Blauvelt murdered Cati Blauvelt.
    James Stolz, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Hackman, whose pacemaker activity made his last day alive easier to guess, likely died a week later.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Avoid guessing or making up a story that misrepresents the financial facts.
    Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Like, imagine how different the world would be if police officers had this same energy for, say, the NYPD, killing hundreds of civilian complaints accusing the department of misconduct.
    Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Just imagining who could play Colman Smith in a TV or movie version of Pixie is enough to seriously excite the producers strutting the Olympia halls.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The multi-year security Marchand wanted beyond this season, then, was too much for Sweeney to assume considering the risk of injuries and decline.
    Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Another place to consider is chef Danny Grant’s elegant approach to seafood, pasta, and beef at Monarch, which is also downtown.
    Visit Dallas, AFAR Media, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • All three of those Grizzlies defeats were decided in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, but the loss of Jackson will be the one that’s felt the most.
    William Guillory, The Athletic, 5 Mar. 2025
  • The collection features 24 pieces that feel upscale, timeless, and fresh—all with a true-to-its-DNA Tommy Americana twist.
    Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 4 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Think.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/think. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

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