fancy 1 of 3

fancy

2 of 3

noun

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as in imagination
the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others to fans of Lewis Carroll, the animal creations of his fertile fancy are as real as any creature to be found at the zoo

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fancy

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fancy distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of fancy are conceive, envisage, envision, imagine, realize, and think. While all these words mean "to form an idea of," fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

When could conceive be used to replace fancy?

The words conceive and fancy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 fancy?

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

Where would imagine be a reasonable alternative to fancy?

The meanings of imagine and fancy largely overlap; however, imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

When would realize be a good substitute for fancy?

While the synonyms realize and fancy are close in meaning, realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

When can think be used instead of fancy?

In some situations, the words think and fancy are roughly equivalent. However, 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

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 fancy
Adjective
According to Majin Bu, Apple's also working on a fancy Crossbody Strap. PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2025 Nothing too fancy [but] something meaningful. Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
So swap in whatever varieties suit your fancy to keep dinnertime exciting. Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2025 Few pleasures compare to popping into a boulangerie for a warm baguette, grabbing fresh cheese from a fromagerie, crisp wine from a local bottle shop, and any other bits and bobs that suit your fancy—all in the pursuit of a perfect al fresco meal in the most romantic city on earth. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
Chelsea and Aston Villa assets were highly fancied going into Gameweek 1, with a large proportion of managers opting to double-up on their players. Holly Shand, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025 OceanGate co-founder and CEO Stockton Rush fancied himself an adventurer, visionary and MacGyver-esque experimenter. Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fancy
Adjective
  • Users can search for specific properties of geologic units or click on the map for additional geologic information and links to more detailed maps of local areas.
    David Bressan, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • While history is ever present throughout, the Freedom Tower’s installations are created to appeal to 21st century visitors, many through interactive exhibitions, digital content and detailed re-creations.
    Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • A level 2 of 4 threat for excessive rainfall is in place for parts of eastern New Mexico and western Texas due to rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour possible in the heaviest storms.
    Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The government's initial response, which blamed opposition factions rather than acknowledging excessive force, further inflamed tensions.
    Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The dream drive package includes private transfer to The Barn, Napa Valley Car Club's exclusive clubhouse, post-drive drinks and stories and return transfer.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • That dream never manifested, and eventually, the republican government’s international legitimacy was transferred to the surging mainland.
    Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • At the end of each task, Davies awards points based on performance and his own whims, and the winner at the end of each series gets a trophy shaped like Davies’s head.
    Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Historically linked to meditation and traditional Japanese dining culture, today’s iterations are all about modern living needs that suit every whim—lounging while binging on the White Lotus reruns, creating a reading nook, or simply losing oneself in texts at the end of the day.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Hummers will take advantage of most nectar that’s offered, but when the food and ambiance (clean feeders and no predators) are to their liking, word does get around.
    Joan Morris, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2025
  • It’s established right away that Ziva and Tony are friendly but romantically estranged co-parents who’ve found Europe to their mutual liking, but the exact nature of how their relationship changed over the last few years reveals itself in copious flashbacks.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Governments, investors, and operators must align on a broader, more modern definition of infrastructure—and act together with urgency and imagination.
    Maurice Obeid, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • In an atmosphere of repression and fear, these women discover courage, solidarity, and the power of imagination through the simple transformative act of reading together.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Looking Down On Earth From Orbit After nearly a year in orbit, Marshburn has gained a perspective few of us can imagine.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • In Bezos’ imagined future, Earth is reserved for living and vacationing, perhaps preserved indefinitely as a national park.
    Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Microwave ovens, which came along much later, enjoyed more widespread ownership and usage, both above 90%, in spite of urban legends about how microwaves will explode your pets and lower sperm counts.
    Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Unlike Disneyland or Disney World, there is no theme park, but the resort boasts a mini water park with slides and a lazy river for all ages to enjoy.
    Essence, Essence, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fancy. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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