Thesaurus results for ENVISAGE

Q: How is the word 'envisage' distinct from other similar verbs?

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

Q: When is 'conceive' a more appropriate choice than 'envisage'?

The synonyms conceive and envisage are sometimes interchangeable, but conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design. // conceived of a new marketing approach

Q: In what contexts can 'fancy' take the place of 'envisage'?

The words fancy and envisage can be used in similar contexts, but fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires. // fancied himself a super athlete

Q: When might 'imagine' be a better fit than 'envisage'?

While the synonyms imagine and envisage are close in meaning, imagine stresses a visualization. // imagine you're at the beach

Q: When could 'realize' be used to replace 'envisage'?

The meanings of realize and envisage largely overlap; however, realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined. // realized the enormity of the task ahead

Q: Where would 'think' be a reasonable alternative to 'envisage'?

Although the words think and envisage have much in common, 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

envisage

verb

in-ˈvi-zij

Definition of envisage next

as in to imagine

to form a mental picture of I'm trying to envisage you on a surfboard

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word envisage distinct from other similar verbs?

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

The synonyms conceive and envisage are sometimes interchangeable, but conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design.

conceived of a new marketing approach

In what contexts can fancy take the place of envisage?

The words fancy and envisage can be used in similar contexts, but fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

When might imagine be a better fit than envisage?

While the synonyms imagine and envisage are close in meaning, imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

When could realize be used to replace envisage?

The meanings of realize and envisage largely overlap; however, realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

Where would think be a reasonable alternative to envisage?

Although the words think and envisage have much in common, 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 envisage Leon envisaged selling the product to police and military customers. —

Simon Akam, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026 The agency envisaged the book as a public invitation for other Iranian nuclear scientists to defect as well, and Chalker worked government contacts at Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation to line up a publisher at its HarperCollins division. —

David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026 The source envisaged that Iran would establish diplomatic ties with the United States and take a position on Israel similar to that of Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states. —

Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2026 However, the think tank warned that none of these near-term scenarios envisage a positive transformation in the year or so after transition. —

Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for envisage

Recent Examples of Synonyms for envisage

Verb

Uncompetitive contests that feature anonymous rosters as stars – or even competent role players – are shut down for the season with injuries both real and imagined.

— Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
The second narrative, the one that came later—with science fiction reinventing the robot as gleaming, futuristic, aspirational—built a future that, as imagined by European and American science fiction writers, was white.

— Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2026