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 14k gold-over-brass finish and cubic zirconia stones add just enough shine to dress up a T-shirt and jeans without feeling too fancy for daily wear. — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2026 For the team-up, the two former Disney Channel stars posed in fancy gowns and crowns for some regal photos, marking one of the first times fans have seen them together in years. — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2026
Noun
If a basket strikes your fancy, look no further than Widener and Company, a small business in Maine that specializes in antiques and handcraft. — Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Blending clean lines with upholstered curves on the head and footboard, this bed frame will add a modern, slightly industrial touch to a bedroom if that suits your fancy. — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 16 July 2026
Verb
One of them, Wilf (played with a neat balance of boyishness and menace by Charlie Webb), fancies her. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026 Guadagnino comes at Bertolucci from many angles, even claiming to have fancied him as a younger man, but facts and figures don’t really seem to enter into his concept of biography. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fancy
Adjective
  • The lack of transparency in the incentives’ application process, alongside excessive bureaucracy and uncertainty, remain issues, although Japanese industry folk have similar complaints about applying for export support.
    — Gavin J Blair, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The Wolf of Wall Street, the Leonardo DiCaprio and Margot Robbie movie about Belfort’s wild and excessive life as a New York stockbroker and boiler room boss, was released through Paramount Pictures.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • The detailed report, based on decades of records, notes that the findings discussed in that meeting did not enter mainstream debates earlier because much of it was written originally in German.
    — Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The companies have not provided a detailed deployment schedule or specified how many sites will become operational in the first phase.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • California dreams and nightmares The Cheesecake Factory is a punchline.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026
  • On the floor beside him, the dog was feebly pursuing some quarry in a dream.
    — Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Critically, this legislation should protect allies from the whims of future presidents.
    — THEODORE BUNZEL, Foreign Affairs, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Shaw’s witty drawing-room debates also warn of a society indulging its whims as catastrophe approaches — a question of how to live when the world careens toward darkness.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Beige is a bit too basic for our liking, whereas camel brings cozy warmth and chic sophistication with its golden-brown undertones.
    — InStyle, InStyle, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Anyone who’s had a game console and played Madden has arranged depth charts to their liking and made game-management decisions to feel like a head coach.
    — Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • His work is visionary, and his stealth and imagination of camera work and storytelling is so visceral and sensuous.
    — Wengel Gemu, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026
  • For one of the optimistic developers of AI, the musically minded computer scientist Marvin Minsky, the Media Lab functioned akin to a surgeon removing blockages to the imagination.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • One self attends to these demands, but this liberates a second self to imagine or to interrogate, to dream or to remember, to plan or to play.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Before her death, Monroe nevertheless continued to work, seek roles, and imagine a life different from the one others intended for her.
    — Annarita Briganti, Vanity Fair, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Activities like boating, jet-skiing, snorkeling, kayaking, and mountain biking can all be enjoyed within a five-mile radius.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026
  • That same year, Adkins opened the lake on his Middle Tennessee property to a group from Big Brothers Big Sisters, giving children and their mentors an opportunity to enjoy a day of fishing and other outdoor activities.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fancy. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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