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
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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
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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
-
Thus the god of the clan, the totemic principle, can be none other than the clan itself, but the clan transfigured and imagined.—
Glenn Adamson,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
Fire changed human habitation in ways our ancestors could hardly have imagined.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Everything can be enjoyed in the garden.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
-
That litigation is occurring as plaintiffs have enjoyed success suing social media companies over addictive app designs.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
28 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
-
Schindler liked the way the Knights were able to play strong in those setbacks.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Emerson never much liked Hawthorne’s fiction.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Although UConn, defending champion, was undefeated until facing South Carolina in the Final Four, Auriemma had envisioned scenarios in which the Huskies could come up short, particularly if both Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong had bad shooting nights.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
-
Originally, the couple envisioned a destination wedding, but decided against traveling with their small children.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The Mission-style burrito, with its monstrous circumference and segregated ingredients, strikes me as a variation best loved by the people who grew up loving it.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
-
Cameron Rider had always been an athlete and loved hockey and baseball.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
The twins had always dreamed of being on maternity leave at the same time.—
Kelsey Monstrola,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
-
Esra, a first-grader who dreamed of becoming a pilot, was found in the school’s prayer hall alongside her cousin Fatemeh Yazdanpanah.—
Zohreh Saberi,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Tastee-Freez was where Middle American children were rewarded, budding adults savored their first morsels of independence, and old-timers gathered to reminisce.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Given their relatively little stage time together, the two savored the opportunity to admire each other’s performance.—
Carey Purcell,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fancied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fancied. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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