fancy 1 of 3

Definition of fancynext

fancy

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noun

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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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fancy distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of fancy are conceive, envisage, envision, imagine, realize, and think. While all these words mean "to form an idea of," fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

When could conceive be used to replace fancy?

The words conceive and fancy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 fancy?

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

Where would imagine be a reasonable alternative to fancy?

The meanings of imagine and fancy largely overlap; however, imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

When would realize be a good substitute for fancy?

While the synonyms realize and fancy are close in meaning, 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 fancy?

In some situations, the words think and fancy 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 fancy
Adjective
The living room in this one is a real standout and includes a window seat with integrated storage, along with one of those fancy hanging fireplaces that burns bioethanol. New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026 Her prize includes a $150,000 salary, Range Rover, one-year lease in a luxury Miami apartment, fancy wardrobe and other swag. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
And then just see what strikes your fancy and what inspires you. Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 7 July 2026 Varieties There are thousands of different hostas in an array of colors and patterns, so one is sure to strike your fancy. Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026
Verb
Speaking of singing pirates, Curry clearly fancied these kinds of roles, signing on to play the villainous Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island (1996), Brian Henson’s musical adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel. ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026 West Ham, Wolves and Burnley bring recent Premier League experience, while Middlesbrough, Southampton, Birmingham, Norwich and Sheffield United are all fancied ahead of Wrexham for promotion. Dean Jones, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fancy
Adjective
  • The deputy ultimately pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights violation for excessive force.
    Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The experimentation with outdoor games is probably a thing of the past after Nebraska’s match against Missouri at Wrigley Field was delayed twice and finally suspended after just 18 points because of excessive moisture on the court.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Court transcripts that include detailed Chinese testimony are rare, in part because discriminatory testimony laws kept Chinese silent in most court proceedings for decades.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
  • There is no blueprint or detailed design for the $8 million project yet.
    Veronica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Each vignette of time reveals how time, our upbringing, and even our individual dreams shape the path of our lives and who ultimately ends up beside us for the ride.
    Emmalee Reed, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
  • In childhood, in adulthood, in her old age, Evans was besotted by dreams, turbulent, awesome, pictorial dreams.
    Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Behold the plight of the Ryan Murphy character, cursed to behave nonsensically and flit wildly from plotline to plotline based on the writer’s whims.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Telling the world every thought and creative whim built him a following.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • There’s never going to be optimal city management of road closures and detours to everyone’s liking, no matter how many public hearings of driver angst and outcry take place.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • If fruity fragrances lean too sweet for your liking and clean scents feel too minimalist, citrus perfumes may be the ideal middle ground.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • This reputation is tied to the biting wit and unruly imagination found across his prose, poetry and political writings.
    Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Performed exactly as written, the scene showcases Eisenberg’s razor-sharp script and the syncopated timing of two veterans, anchoring a story about mentorship, imagination and how performance can make invisible lives feel seen.
    Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • And the remarkable part of this entire sequence is that at least two characters are actively imagining uses for the box that will compromise the experiment.
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • One can only imagine what that iPad has looked like in the past few days.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Aston Villa and Chelsea, for example, exchanged four players over the summer, with The Athletic reporting that the two organisations enjoy a strong relationship.
    Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Home to the world’s largest Japanese diaspora, as well as sizeable Korean and Chinese communities, the Brazilian megacity of São Paulo is one of the best places outside Asia to enjoy Asian food, said Austin Bush in Travel + Leisure.
    The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fancy. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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