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

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a fancy restaurant
an extravagant restaurant
a formal restaurant
a posh restaurant
a classy restaurant
a luxurious restaurant
fancy cars
flashy cars
lavish cars
snazzy cars
swanky cars
fancy clothes
formal clothes
glamorous clothes
dressy clothes
fabulous clothes
extravagant clothes

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
Wimbledon cannot get out of its own way The fanciest of our tennis majors can’t go a day without a controversy that seems silly. Chris Branch, New York Times, 7 July 2025 Reading a gossip rag in a fancy L.A. salon hit different from reading it in my dentist’s office back home, 3,000 miles away from all the celebrities sprawled across the pages. Sarah Hartshorne, Vulture, 7 July 2025
Noun
The 120fps quality is as clear as day, too, bolstered by the bigger screen and fancy, magnetic Joy-Con 2s. Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025 The idea of a catalogue of lesbians seized her fancy. Charlie Tyson, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
Verb
Murry, who fancied himself a songwriter, encouraged and prodded his sons, who cut a few tunes at Keen Recording Studios at the behest of his music publisher, Hite Morgan. Roy Trakin, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2025 In the late 1970s, punk briefly ruled the roost and the genre’s DIY ethic struck a chord with fans who had grown tired of the music press and fancied having a go themselves. Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for fancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fancy
Adjective
  • Pros: Deep tech focus, detailed job filters and trusted by major tech employers.
    Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • Engineers also use building information modeling and point cloud scanning to create highly detailed 3D blueprints.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • Missouri’s Felony Murder Statute is overly broad, often misused, and excessive.
    Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
  • Watch for excessive panting, lagging behind, or stumbling.
    Owen Clarke, Outside Online, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • The onetime dream of widespread debt forgiveness has been extinguished, and a five-year reprieve for people who had defaulted on student loans expired in May of this year.
    Brit Morse, Fortune, 8 July 2025
  • After having her Star Wars dreams come true by playing fan-favorite Fennec Shand in The Mandalorian, Ming-Na Wen recently realized another exciting vision with a role in The Karate Kid franchise in the new film Karate Kid: Legends.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • Analysts who follow Walgreens see the move to private ownership as another plus because the company and a stock price attached to public ownership will no longer be subject to the whims of Wall Street.
    Bruce Japsen, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • Stay true to your ideas, whims, and more once Leo season begins on July 22.
    Liz Simmons, StyleCaster, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • From Oahu to Kauai, there are plenty of elopement planners, photographers, and unique venues that will tailor your celebration to your liking.
    Shelby Wax, Vogue, 24 June 2025
  • As if there wasn’t already enough change afoot in the world for Agnes’ liking, Ada is now the lady of the Van Rhijn household, creating serious confusion for the staff.
    Andy Swift, TVLine, 22 June 2025
Noun
  • Yes, focus still matters—but not at the expense of imagination.
    Brent Gleeson, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • What If Neanderthals Lived with Humans? Unlike humans, who are experts in optimization and always looking for ways to further perfect our efficiency, Neanderthals weren’t capable of the same imagination.
    Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Even though no one ever could have imagined it at the time, the Yankees weren’t going to win Torre one more Series, weren’t even going to make it back there even after having led three games to none.
    Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 5 July 2025
  • Our nation has morphed far beyond the republic that the founders initially imagined.
    Joanna Allhands, AZCentral.com, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • Here, my review of Holland America Line’s Westerdam, and how anyone can enjoy themselves aboard, whether traveling solo, as a couple, or with friends and family.
    Susan B. Barnes, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2025
  • Ellie Goulding enjoys a ride through the canals of Venice while in town for Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's wedding on June 27.
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fancy. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

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