conceive

Synonym Chooser

How is the word conceive distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of conceive are envisage, envision, fancy, imagine, realize, and think. While all these words mean "to form an idea of," 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 conceive?

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 could fancy be used to replace conceive?

Although the words fancy and conceive have much in common, fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

In what contexts can imagine take the place of conceive?

While in some cases nearly identical to conceive, imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

When would realize be a good substitute for conceive?

The synonyms realize and conceive are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 conceive?

In some situations, the words think and conceive 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 conceive What basically is a two-hour trailer for the rest of Anakin Skywalker’s story is kind of a mess – he was immaculately conceived? Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 May 2025 The Complacency Danger One worry about conceiving AI as normal technology is that this might slide society into a semblance of complacency about AI. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025 Series creators Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, who recently wrapped a writers’ room, have spoken about the challenges of conceiving a second season without a blueprint as none of the other novels in Clavell’s Asian Saga have the same characters as Shōgun, the third book in the series. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2025 As a result, couples trying to conceive may not be able to get trustworthy information about IVF clinics or their chances for success. Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 26 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for conceive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conceive
Verb
  • Xu began to imagine what this might mean for people with cancer if histotripsy activates the human immune system in a similar way.
    Kristen Jordan Shamus, USA Today, 19 May 2025
  • The easiest life to imagine was the life of the man who ran the ferry.
    Patricia Lockwood, New Yorker, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • To understand what’s at stake amid the NNSA’s workforce woes, USA TODAY interviewed current and former agency officials and reviewed decades of watchdog reports, safety records and other official documents.
    Davis Winkie, USA Today, 19 May 2025
  • The realtor also pulled permits to help determine a timeline of events to understand when some of the damage occurred.
    Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • But, not surprisingly, what gamblers think and what 133 cardinals decide can be completely different.
    Jim Sergent, USA Today, 9 May 2025
  • Deborah is thinking of Ava but can’t bring herself to say it.
    Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • Still, White remains hopeful for revitalization, envisioning Dolton as a tourist destination with the pope’s former home and parish drawing visitors.
    Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025
  • Many organizations envision a rapid rollout of AI solutions, only to face delays that can stretch much longer than planned.
    Erez Meltzer, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • Barnett is best known for his participation in the first season of Love Island USA, which premiered in 2019.
    Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 20 May 2025
  • On May 9, a swarm of what are believed to be Africanized honey bees, also known as killer bees, attacked and killed three horses in Comanche, Texas, just about 50 miles southeast of Eastland.
    Greta Cross, USA Today, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • Scientists believe studying these extremophiles could revolutionize life sciences, bioengineering, and space exploration.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 20 May 2025
  • The injured child, who is roughly 14 months old, was hospitalized in Toledo, while a 5-year-old child is believed to be missing in the Sandusky River, per the outlets.
    Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • Back to battle once again for their lives and a giant cash prize, the wordless preview sees contestants facing a series of high-stakes situations, involving guns, fists and an ominous giant gumball machine.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 10 May 2025
  • Southern Baptist churches lost more than a quarter-million members nationwide in 2024, the 18th straight year of decline, but saw baptism and attendance numbers rise.
    Frank E. Lockwood, Arkansas Online, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • For traders focused on events, comprehending these historical trends might provide a potential advantage.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • This special stamp serves as a lasting reminder of Barbara Bush's enduring love for family and friends, sharp wit and unwavering commitment to solve the problems of today by ensuring that every man, woman and child has the opportunity to read, write and comprehend.
    Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Conceive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conceive. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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