1
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount
decided they would rather go without dinner than pay the hotel restaurant's fancy prices
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in detailed
made or done with great care or with much detail
we're having a little get-together after the concert—nothing fancy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in dream
a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality
a writer with a prodigious talent for creating fancies that captivate readers young and old
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in whim
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action
is this a serious interest in music, or just your latest fancy that will be forgotten after a week?
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in liking
positive regard for something
now that he's rich he's taken a fancy to expensive sports cars
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
1
as in to imagine
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
2
as in to enjoy
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of fancy
Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026
These prescriptive measures took place in isolated medical facilities known as sanatoriums, and some of the fancier ones resembled a cross between a hospital and a resort.
—Outside, 31 Jan. 2026
Jennie Nunn, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Not finding anything that suits your fancy?
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2025
Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025
After he was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War, Mason urged Michael to flee to Mexico, but Michael did not fancy himself a draft dodger.
—Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fancy
Adjective
Ministers wearing designer suits and driving fancy cars preach that prosperity doctrine.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026
These prescriptive measures took place in isolated medical facilities known as sanatoriums, and some of the fancier ones resembled a cross between a hospital and a resort.
—Outside, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
If beachcombing or tide pooling strikes your fancy, there’s a set of Helly Hansen raincoats, waterproof pants, and umbrellas in the closet.
—Jennie Nunn, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Not finding anything that suits your fancy?
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2025
Verb
Some have fancied themselves an island chanteuse (Wanda Shirk on Palau).
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025
After he was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War, Mason urged Michael to flee to Mexico, but Michael did not fancy himself a draft dodger.
—Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fancy
Adjective
-
Although the Bobcats scored more points in the paint, their inability to stop the Eagles' forward on the interior led to excessive fouling.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Critics say it was often used to justify excessive force by police.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
It was produced by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York and provides an even more detailed overview of other interviews conducted by the New York State Attorney’s Office and the FBI with victims, witnesses and people associated with Epstein.—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
-
But district leaders said a recent increase in protests — particularly those that moved off campus — prompted the need for clearer, more detailed protocols.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Lindsey Vonn was the 13th skier to hit the slopes in the alpine ski women’s downhill at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics on Sunday and her dreams of powering through a devastating knee injury to make the medal podium came to a crashing halt.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Gary has had civic dreams before.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The island nation, vulnerable to the whims of the Atlantic, has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Danish firm Wavepiston to turn those crashing swells into a 50 MW power source.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
-
In contrast, executive orders are the whims of a single person.—
Abby McCloskey,
Twin Cities,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Once the pork is about 80 percent browned to your liking, 8 to 10 minutes, add the garlic.—
Holly Riordan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Once the tomato's ripeness is to your liking, Sears says to hold the stem of the plant with one hand and pull the tomato off with the other.—
Nashia Baker,
Martha Stewart,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Now, for the first time, an experiment hints that an ape in captivity can have an imagination.—
Adithi Ramakrishnan,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
-
When Luckman arrived in Chicago, the Bears playbook had hundreds of designs from the T Formation, with hundreds of variations in the playbook and seemingly hundreds more in the imagination.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Now imagine the same with some of those teary eyes angled down toward glowing screens, while others frame the bride with their phones.—
Nikita Khanna,
Vogue,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Some researchers suggested that goodbyes required cognitive abilities that many nonhuman animals might lack, such as the capacity to imagine and plan for the future.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Ready to enjoy softer strands and skip the greasy feeling?—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
6 Feb. 2026
-
This selection of quick and easy appetizers will have you out of the kitchen in no time, and enjoying the fun with your friends and family.—
Mary Alice Russell,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fancy. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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