THINK Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

think

verb

ˈthiŋk

Definition of think next

as in to believe

to have as an opinion I think we should wait for someone to come help us out

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Examples 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 It was thought that the Yankees would pursue former Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames if Soto signed elsewhere, but the San Francisco Giants snatched him Saturday night on a colossal seven-year, $182 million deal. —

Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024 Well, the philosopher Schopenhauer thought music resonated with the will, the unconscious will. —

Sean Illing, Vox, 9 Dec. 2024 Kempton was basically a liberal, but WFB loved to publish him in National Review — which rubbed some people the wrong way: people who thought of NR as more of a political enterprise than a magazine. —

Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 27 Nov. 2024 She was thought to be in the Green Canyon Way Trail area of Welches in Oregon, according to the sheriff's department. —

Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 27 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for think

Recent Examples of Synonyms for think

Verb

The suspect caught a cab around 7 a.m. on the Upper West Side and was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said, adding police believe the suspect had left the city.

John Bacon, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024
Police located the car at the intersection of Fulton Street and Washington Avenue, and the car took off once the driver, a woman believed to be the mother of the baby, noticed a police car.

Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024