fantasy 1 of 2

variants also phantasy
Definition of fantasynext
1
2
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 the painter gave free rein to his fantasy to create pictures that capture the kind of reality we experience only in our dreams

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in fiction
something that is the product of the imagination we were coming to the conclusion that the person Karen "saw" in the woods was another one of her fantasies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fantasy

2 of 2

verb

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 fantasy
Noun
The movie gestures toward the real world but is unequivocally selling the fantasy. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026 In recent weeks, social media users, especially on X, have been noticing increasing references to goblins, along with other fantasy creatures such as gremlins, ogres and trolls in ChatGPT’s answers to user queries. Rob Wile, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026 If Bruce Springsteen’s greatest gift was mythologizing the existential open graves swallowing up blue-collar workers, Mellencamp’s was his piercing ability to at once celebrate and dismantle agrarian fantasy. Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026 Vorteks launched last year with the aim of handling up to eight titles a year across genres including horror, thriller, sci-fi, action, and fantasy films. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fantasy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fantasy
Noun
  • The coffee shop seemed so long ago now, so far away, as if something out of a dream.
    Saïd Sayrafiezadeh, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Derek Muller, an election law expert, suggests that scenario is little more than a fever dream of doomsday devotees and overly nervous Nellies.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Romantic Venus sextiles dreamy Neptune, softening conversations and opening space for empathy, imagination, and meaningful exchange.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Ko’s conception of the wuxia genre centers on imagination as a martial force.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Hokum gives you a taste of one tormented scribe’s fiction before introducing you to the man behind the keyboard.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The director’s 2024 fiction project In Her Place also is streaming on Netflix.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • But dismantling polluting industries, trying to clean up our air and our water, and imagining a health care system not driven by profit would take coordinated, radical restructuring.
    Hannah Kerman, STAT, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Just imagine Bill Belichick and Rob Gronkowski smashing vodka Red Bulls and partying it up.
    Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But the illusion shatters when a stranger on the street recognizes the dog… as HER boyfriend Danny’s dog.
    William Earl, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
  • This week, even Penny’s exceptionalism is revealed to be an illusion.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Be honest about what’s workable, and let creativity thrive within boundaries.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
  • These details feel distinctly human, inviting curiosity, creativity, and connection.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The 2-panel chart below tells the tale.
    Carter Braxton Worth, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Whitman’s poetry and prose; Melville’s early romances of the sea, Typee, Omoo, and Mardi; three novels by Harriet Beecher Stowe, including Uncle Tom’s Cabin; and the complete tales and sketches of Nathaniel Hawthorne.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • That includes the 49ers, who walked away with a set of three draft picks Friday that no one envisioned.
    Vic Tafur, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Stefanishyna envisions a reciprocal partnership with Washington, in which each side can provide the other with critical assistance.
    Trudy Rubin, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fantasy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fantasy. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on fantasy

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster