as in dreams
a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality
hoped that one day world peace would be a reality and not just a daydream
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Recent Examples of daydreams
Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
Below, some of the finest, high-quality ruffled bedding around the web for creating the frothy bedscape of your daydreams.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 Feb. 2026
Rather than stressing over social niceties, sitting in ornate carriages and snacking on cream cakes, Sophie daydreams while scrubbing floors and delivering tea.
—Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026
Shortly after, the book began to take shape, with new elements often arriving in vivid daydreams and eerie nightmares.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
And like the iconic Orient-Express (whose original route has been revived by Belmond's Venice Simplon-Orient-Express), the Champagne flutes, suited servers, and glossy design of this locomotive hold a seductive potential for daydreams and drama.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
Bob Weir, the singer, songwriter, guitarist, and co-founder of the Grateful Dead, whose songs about sunshine daydreams and truckin’ helped turn the jam band into a 60-year musical empire, has died at age 78.
—Richard Gehr, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2026
Alas, my daydreams about adapting an essay from my collection into a limited series TV show turned out to be just that.
—Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
What about those perfect days and the daydreams that had sustained us?
—Michael Paterniti, Travel + Leisure, 14 Nov. 2025
Noun
More than masturbatory daydreams, Vladimir inspires our heroine to write with abandon, ignoring professional and personal obligations in service to her muse.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
Below, some of the finest, high-quality ruffled bedding around the web for creating the frothy bedscape of your daydreams.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 Feb. 2026
Rather than stressing over social niceties, sitting in ornate carriages and snacking on cream cakes, Sophie daydreams while scrubbing floors and delivering tea.
—Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026
Shortly after, the book began to take shape, with new elements often arriving in vivid daydreams and eerie nightmares.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
And like the iconic Orient-Express (whose original route has been revived by Belmond's Venice Simplon-Orient-Express), the Champagne flutes, suited servers, and glossy design of this locomotive hold a seductive potential for daydreams and drama.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
Bob Weir, the singer, songwriter, guitarist, and co-founder of the Grateful Dead, whose songs about sunshine daydreams and truckin’ helped turn the jam band into a 60-year musical empire, has died at age 78.
—Richard Gehr, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2026
Alas, my daydreams about adapting an essay from my collection into a limited series TV show turned out to be just that.
—Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
What about those perfect days and the daydreams that had sustained us?
—Michael Paterniti, Travel + Leisure, 14 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for daydreams
Noun
-
Still, India is pushing its aviation dreams, with Modi leading the charge.—
Aishwarya S Iyer,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
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And many of these companies’ AI dreams are tied up in OpenAI, which just exited a massive deal with Disney to try to secure its place in Hollywood.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Less dangerous but more common are fantasies and hallucinations, which Laye believes result from general fatigue.—
Brad Stulberg,
Outside,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Mamdani’s housing agenda, so far, is built on a foundation of headlines, slogans and fiscal fantasies.—
Ann Korchak,
New York Daily News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Such is the difference between playoff team with championship visions and play-in team with a potential off-ramp into the draft lottery.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
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Disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance force him to confront dark corners of his past.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Dartmouth will never be affected by the fundamental transformation of America that Campbell fantasizes will soon be devastating Winthrop, Holden and the rest of the towns.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
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Anyone who fantasizes about the new and improved version of themselves that awaits on the other side of the ball drop can relate to the special blend of optimism and self-criticism that the New Year often holds.—
Lauren Mechling,
Vogue,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
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But then, over the course of several viewings, new recognitions dawned—on the social contract, illusions of class, and the artist’s deft use of color in this gorgeous study of red, white, and blue.—
Laura Brown,
Artforum,
25 Mar. 2026
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Even the most die-hard anti-American cleric in the Iranian political system did not harbor illusions that Iran could defeat the United States in conventional ways.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And Ripi fancies itself as a disruptor.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Jackson fancies himself an American Sadat, performing the most sensitive, high-profile diplomatic missions for the president but without the accountability of appointive office.—
Gail Sheehy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The series’ first real twist is that the paranoid conspiracy Rachel imagines is in fact a bait-and-switch for what’s going on here.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
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Shah then enters with a verse that imagines a more just country.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Utilizing techniques adapted from filmmaking and aesthetics that put a surreal spin on Old Hollywood glamour, Alex Prager’s work blends still images and moving ones.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
18 Mar. 2026
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Thinking about the college football scouting process, images conjure up of wily old coaches traveling across the country to get cozy with potential recruits, eating the family’s best spread for dinner while trying to sell their program.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Daydreams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/daydreams. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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