1
as in imagined
to form a mental picture of
try to fancy, if you can, our mother on an elephant when she was touring India
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in enjoyed
to take pleasure in
the teacher didn't fancy the idea of failing the student, even if he was the class clown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 fancied
The place first opened 93 years ago when Jack Fry, a guy who fancied boxing, gambling and horse racing, opened a tavern with his wife, Flossie.
—
Usa Today Network, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Dudley will be well-fancied to be the highest-scoring rookie in NWSL 2026.
—Theo Lloyd-Hughes, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Brian would ask him as a homosexual thing—a good-looking boy who Brian fancied.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
In the years following, Francesca and John's cousin Michael Stirling, who always fancied her, grow closer, and eventually their relationship progresses from friendship to courtship.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
Defending European champion Spain is fancied to do well, as is defeated European finalist England.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025
Some have fancied themselves an island chanteuse (Wanda Shirk on Palau).
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025
Wales' women went into the World Cup with a higher ranking than Scotland but have now dropped to 10th and are underdogs against Canada, needing victory to save their tournament as Scotland are fancied to beat outsiders Fiji in Saturday's second game at the Salford Community Stadium.
—Mark Gleeson, Reuters, 29 Aug. 2025
Trump's first term was plagued by internal sabotage from bureaucrats and agency officers who fancied themselves a coequal branch of government.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Usa Today Network, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Dudley will be well-fancied to be the highest-scoring rookie in NWSL 2026.
—Theo Lloyd-Hughes, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Brian would ask him as a homosexual thing—a good-looking boy who Brian fancied.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
In the years following, Francesca and John's cousin Michael Stirling, who always fancied her, grow closer, and eventually their relationship progresses from friendship to courtship.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
Defending European champion Spain is fancied to do well, as is defeated European finalist England.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025
Some have fancied themselves an island chanteuse (Wanda Shirk on Palau).
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025
Wales' women went into the World Cup with a higher ranking than Scotland but have now dropped to 10th and are underdogs against Canada, needing victory to save their tournament as Scotland are fancied to beat outsiders Fiji in Saturday's second game at the Salford Community Stadium.
—Mark Gleeson, Reuters, 29 Aug. 2025
Trump's first term was plagued by internal sabotage from bureaucrats and agency officers who fancied themselves a coequal branch of government.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fancied
Verb
-
At the time, few could have imagined the path ahead.—
Cody J Martinez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Another thing Theresa DeMaria couldn’t have imagined in her 20s?—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Despite being bothered by his elbow throughout the 2025 campaign, Rodón enjoyed his best season with the Yankees last year.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Bencoglu also enjoyed the warmth of the home supporters on Tuesday.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Moving a blade back and forth to try to saw biscuits apart will make their layers stick (and ruin the rise).—
Ella Quittner,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Ruggeri says that, in comparison to saw palmetto, which gets far more attention.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Hana liked it enough to take some home, which in the Test Kitchen is a ringing endorsement!—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The Moore move was made to bring in a player the Eagles liked coming out of college, but who has not yet capitalized on his traits in the NFL.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As envisioned, the mission will test the spacecraft before eventually enabling weeklong lunar stays.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
-
As someone who once envisioned a future as a rock star, long hair felt like part of the uniform.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
A little girl who loved green aliens, drinking pickle juice and picking buttercups in the field with her mom.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
-
No artist ever mocked the insanity of the Hollywood cartoon stystem with such devastating incisiveness, and yet loved its creative output so much.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
England, who spent years working in hospitality, as well as in retail management, has dreamed of opening her own place for years and spent two years preparing Kaos by obtaining permits, a liquor license, preparing the kitchen and thoughtfully decorating.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
-
While there has always been a thriving industry of paranoid books and films, modern conspiracism has avenues of distribution and incentive that Cold War cranks and 19th-century pamphleteers could have only dreamed of.—
Mike Rothschild,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Northwestern University’s men’s basketball team — in its first NCAA Tournament appearance — savored a win against Vanderbilt.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Every victory has been savored, as the team has been reduced to eight players in each of the last seven games.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fancied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fancied. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
