1
as in imagined
to form a mental picture of
try to fancy, if you can, our mother on an elephant when she was touring India
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in enjoyed
to take pleasure in
the teacher didn't fancy the idea of failing the student, even if he was the class clown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fancied
The place first opened 93 years ago when Jack Fry, a guy who fancied boxing, gambling and horse racing, opened a tavern with his wife, Flossie.
—
Usa Today Network, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Dudley will be well-fancied to be the highest-scoring rookie in NWSL 2026.
—Theo Lloyd-Hughes, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Brian would ask him as a homosexual thing—a good-looking boy who Brian fancied.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
In the years following, Francesca and John's cousin Michael Stirling, who always fancied her, grow closer, and eventually their relationship progresses from friendship to courtship.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
Defending European champion Spain is fancied to do well, as is defeated European finalist England.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025
Some have fancied themselves an island chanteuse (Wanda Shirk on Palau).
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025
Wales' women went into the World Cup with a higher ranking than Scotland but have now dropped to 10th and are underdogs against Canada, needing victory to save their tournament as Scotland are fancied to beat outsiders Fiji in Saturday's second game at the Salford Community Stadium.
—Mark Gleeson, Reuters, 29 Aug. 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
Usa Today Network, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Dudley will be well-fancied to be the highest-scoring rookie in NWSL 2026.
—Theo Lloyd-Hughes, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Brian would ask him as a homosexual thing—a good-looking boy who Brian fancied.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 27 Feb. 2026
In the years following, Francesca and John's cousin Michael Stirling, who always fancied her, grow closer, and eventually their relationship progresses from friendship to courtship.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
Defending European champion Spain is fancied to do well, as is defeated European finalist England.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025
Some have fancied themselves an island chanteuse (Wanda Shirk on Palau).
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025
Wales' women went into the World Cup with a higher ranking than Scotland but have now dropped to 10th and are underdogs against Canada, needing victory to save their tournament as Scotland are fancied to beat outsiders Fiji in Saturday's second game at the Salford Community Stadium.
—Mark Gleeson, Reuters, 29 Aug. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fancied
Verb
-
Writing a novel forces confrontation — with uncertainty, with imperfection, with the uncomfortable gap between what was imagined and what exists on the page.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
8 May 2026
-
But then Dwyer imagined a baroque process that could allow one avalanche to set off another, and another, and another, all right on top of each other.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Woodward and McNeela are both captains who enjoyed Marist’s celebration on senior night.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
12 May 2026
-
The chickens had indeed been attacked by a coyote, a juvenile who’d never before enjoyed the pleasures of the coop.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Moving a blade back and forth to try to saw biscuits apart will make their layers stick (and ruin the rise).—
Ella Quittner,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Ruggeri says that, in comparison to saw palmetto, which gets far more attention.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Her middle-school sister Nicole also liked the family outing.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
-
What Darcy liked best was to be left alone with a pile of books in a quiet room.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
This is a rendering of the Forge Atlanta project, which is envisioned for a 10-acre site between downtown Atlanta and Castleberry Hill.—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
11 May 2026
-
The second and third deliveries are envisioned in 2038 and 2039, with the fourth and fifth ships expected in 2041 and 2043.—
Tony Capaccio,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Spirit Airlines was the budget-friendly carrier America loved to hate.—
Dalila Muata,
NBC news,
9 May 2026
-
While the late Irish businessman Ivor Fitzpatrick, who owned the yacht for the past few years, had loved owning it, his widow, Susan, has lowered the price with the goal of moving it more quickly.—
Michael Ballaban,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
The twins had always dreamed of being on maternity leave at the same time.—
Kelsey Monstrola,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
-
Esra, a first-grader who dreamed of becoming a pilot, was found in the school’s prayer hall alongside her cousin Fatemeh Yazdanpanah.—
Zohreh Saberi,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Tastee-Freez was where Middle American children were rewarded, budding adults savored their first morsels of independence, and old-timers gathered to reminisce.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Given their relatively little stage time together, the two savored the opportunity to admire each other’s performance.—
Carey Purcell,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fancied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fancied. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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