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
Miami’s luxury condo market had another hot month in August, continuing a trend that finds fancy homes attracting big spenders, according to new data from the Miami Association of Realtors. Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025 Don’t let their elegant fancy-restaurant flavors fool you. Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
If one of those trails doesn’t catch your fancy, there are plenty more. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2025 But the Browns, with a 40-year-old quarterback, four offensive linemen signed only for this season and a defense that carries and fancies itself as one of the league’s best, know what things are supposed to look like and what the roadmap to success — even temporary success — has to be. Zac Jackson, New York Times, 8 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
  • Its preservation allows for a more detailed reconstruction of ceremonial life than is usually possible with megalithic monuments.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025
  • There, twice a month, the Michigan Rocky Horror Preservation Society holds court, its members arrayed in corsets, feather boas, ripped jeans and lovingly detailed costumes that evoke their favorite movie's main characters.
    Neda Ulaby, NPR, 27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The reports obtained by The Post show a barrage of complaints from youth that staff used excessive force during restraints or other physical management responses at the state’s 14 facilities.
    Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
  • With extended heat exposure comes excessive sweat, so drinking plenty of fluids with electrolytes the day before is essential for safe sauna use.
    Essence, Essence, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Are your security goals on course to support your bigger dreams in life?
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Many surrealist artists cast women as muses or dream figures conjured for the male gaze.
    Sally Jane Brown, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Instead of standing as a safeguard, Congress has abdicated its responsibility and has been a rubber stamp for the president’s unconstitutional whims.
    Trena Turner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Managing up doesn't mean sucking up, heeding your boss' every whim, keeping any disagreement to yourself, or bending over backwards to make leaders happy.
    Stav Ziv, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Another one of his tops came in a deep shade of red and did seem to be to his liking.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Haight finished second on the team in goals with 20, and after some adjustment found better competition, and better teammates, to his liking.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This view, for me at least, more than anything else connects the dots of our historically informed imagination.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
  • As his imagination grows into vast cities and impossible creatures, fantasy blurs with reality.
    Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Compounding the cacophony is a Jonny Greenwood score that veers between manic percolation—imagine a xylophone humping a coffeepot—and grandly operatic surges of synth.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Drivers like Doell aren’t imagining the transformation.
    Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Walk along the bay, venture to Fort Worden Historical State Park, or make your way to the iconic Point Wilson Lighthouse and enjoy the vibrant colors along the way.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2025
  • On the plus side, this means wearing cropped jeans can be a great way to show off your favorite sneakers or enjoy a pair of flats without having the hem drag or hide the shoes.
    Renata Joffre, Glamour, 26 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fancy. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

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