fancy 1 of 3

fancy

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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

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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
Even your fancy cleaver can fit in the three-inch deep slots. Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2025 So, instead of Jeff Bridges’ character, Kevin Flynn, disappearing into the digital arena, all those sleek vehicles and fancy Programs (like Leto’s Ares) could be 3D printed into existence. Peter Debruge, Variety, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
There are shades of early Dave Chappelle in the way CP maintains interest and excitement in extended flights of fancy. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025 If one of those trails doesn’t catch your fancy, there are plenty more. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
Not simply between humans, who fancy themselves the center of the universe, but between any living thing? Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 5 Sep. 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 See All Example Sentences for fancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fancy
Adjective
  • By carefully analyzing the subtle interactions of these signals, the technology can generate a highly detailed and accurate representation of a person’s presence, posture, and movement that is comparable to a camera snapshot, but constructed entirely from radio waves.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Whereas criminal suspects in this past may have been incriminated by a Google query on, say, how to clean up bloodstains, a more comprehensive, detailed back-and-forth with a tool like ChatGPT gives investigators far more opportunities to prove intent and mindset, Lee explains.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • On Sunday, a 15% chance of flash flooding from excessive rainfall exists along the coast from Ocean City, Maryland to Cape Cod.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The problem arises when excessive dust, dirt, and hair accumulate around the coils, preventing them from performing their job adequately.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Though her identity is not at first known to Benedict, the woman turns out to be Sophie Baek, a secretive maid with big dreams.
    Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 13 Oct. 2025
  • With each brick laid at The Site, The Toy will document dad’s decades-long dream.
    Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The press and the world were at her feet and at her whim, and her whim was a whim of iron.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Martin decided to have Emma undergo a DNA test on something of a whim.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • To be honest, this is a bit too hot for my liking, but high-proof fans will geek out on this.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The single bathroom has a stand-up shower and the finishes are customized to your liking—think faux marble on the walls.
    Kaitlin Gates, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The cruellest occupation is not of land but of the imagination.
    Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The visual shifts mirror thematic contrasts between past and present, imagination and reality.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Maduro’s government intensified its campaign against dissent in the tense months before last year’s presidential election, targeting both real and imagined opponents in a sweeping crackdown on the opposition.
    Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Here and in many of her writings Stowe imagined Christ as a mediator capable of elevating all Christians to heaven.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Stay informed, stay vigilant, and prioritize safety when enjoying the surf.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Senior dogs tend to slow down in their golden years, enjoying a calmer pace of life, but one owner's canine proved that age is just a number.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fancy. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

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