as in playful
given to good-natured joking or teasing
with her slight build and perky manner, the actress was usually cast as the fay young woman who charms all the men in town
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in fairy
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers
in the tale a fay appears in the form of a beautiful and serene woman with an angelic air and a billowy gown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fay
Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Almshouse dwellers, sitting in the sun, watching the surging tide and the glistening water, tell of spirits and banshees and fays.
—Alexander Sammon, Harper's Magazine, 25 June 2022
Noun
The series stars McGregor as Count Rostov, a fay member of Czarist Russia’s ruling class, who was living in comfort in his estates until the revolution of 1917 overthrew the old order.
—Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Almshouse dwellers, sitting in the sun, watching the surging tide and the glistening water, tell of spirits and banshees and fays.
—Alexander Sammon, Harper's Magazine, 25 June 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fay
Adjective
-
The high-quality dress can be worn all summer long, in playful hues like white and green.—
Sarah DiMuro,
PEOPLE,
23 June 2026
-
Beaded sandals, in particular, strike a balance between statement-making and approachable, offering the same playful energy as the season’s beaded jewelry and bags without requiring a complete wardrobe overhaul.—
Lauren Fisher,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
Noun
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For something dreamier, A Midsummer Night’s Dream theme pairs flower garlands and fairy lights with pretty appetizers and edible floral cocktails.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 June 2026
-
Flower garlands, fairy lights everywhere, pretty appetizers and edible floral cocktails.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
22 June 2026
Adjective
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Our leads will be abandoning the mean streets of New York City for merry old London.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 June 2026
-
Starr and his band of merry men would deliver a 100-minute-plus show that was filled with 22 great tunes that most everyone in the house knew by heart.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
12 June 2026
Noun
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The actress will play an elf named Seren, who is a brand new character for the Lord of the Rings franchise.—
Sharareh Drury,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
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The new version will still have the traditional arrow counting down the days to the holiday but also will include moving elves who are helping prepare things for Christmas.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Maeve learns that the legends she was raised on — stories of faeries, kelpies and seelies — are actually true.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
-
The plays are set in locations as varied as courts, forests, battlefields, and even the realm of faerie.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After all, everyone's inner goblin comes out eventually.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
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The scientists only got a passing glimpse of the goblin shark before the lights and loud noise from the ROV's motor scared it away, Auscavitch told ABC News.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
Noun
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Beyond the fruit, the dwarf golden spice pear features clusters of white spring blooms and glossy leaves that turn a striking burgundy or bronze color in the fall.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
22 June 2026
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Many get very large, so be sure to buy a dwarf variety for foundation plantings.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fay. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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