fancy 1 of 3

fancy

2 of 3

noun

1
2
3
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

fancy

3 of 3

verb

Try This Instead

For
Try This
a fancy restaurant
an extravagant restaurant
a formal restaurant
a posh restaurant
a classy restaurant
a luxurious restaurant
fancy cars
flashy cars
lavish cars
snazzy cars
swanky cars
fancy clothes
formal clothes
glamorous clothes
dressy clothes
fabulous clothes
extravagant clothes

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
Easily the best audiobook service, Amazon’s Audible Premium Plus gives you access to a library of Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts, one credit per month to use on any audiobook title you fancy, and regular exclusive deals and discounts. Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 25 June 2025 Plans include building a new Flagship lounge, the airline’s fanciest airport amenity. Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 25 June 2025
Noun
The latter has thus far not been able to capture the TV Academy’s fancy through the show’s first two seasons, which is usually proof that voters just aren’t into a show en masse. Joe Reid, Vulture, 24 May 2025 She’s been collecting for years and will typically pick up whatever strikes her fancy, no pun intended. Marah Eakin, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
Verb
Monroe and his secretary of state, John Quincy Adams, were also aware that Russia’s czar had stated an interest in both the Oregon territory and California and fancied lands as far south as Peru. Whitney Eulich, Christian Science Monitor, 30 May 2025 Meanwhile Casemiro has been much criticised during his time in Manchester and was simply not fancied by previous Brazil manager Dorival Junior. Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for fancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fancy
Adjective
  • Pros: Deep tech focus, detailed job filters and trusted by major tech employers.
    Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • With more powerful telescopes and new printing technologies, astronomers began applying the cartographic tools of geographers to create the first detailed maps of the planet’s surface, filling it in with continents and seas, and in some cases features that could have been produced by life.
    Matthew Shindell, Space.com, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • According to Mock, your professional maid service will not have the proper tools to safely remove excessive mold issues.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 21 June 2025
  • Some locals in Venice, which has dealt with overtourism that has strained the city’s infrastructure and services for years, will protest the wedding over concerns its scale will worsen some of the issues created by excessive tourist crowds.
    Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
Noun
  • Ps ur avocado toast is on the long list of reasons why ur my dream wife.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 26 June 2025
  • There are still a handful of dream sequences and surreal interludes that seem to want to underscore the show’s deep psychological curiosity, and its unwillingness to be an easy watch.
    Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • Analysts who follow Walgreens see the move to private ownership as another plus because the company and a stock price attached to public ownership will no longer be subject to the whims of Wall Street.
    Bruce Japsen, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • This arguably demonstrates why the central bank is federally mandated to be independent, so that a major lever of the economy can be used for the long-term benefit of businesses and consumers as opposed to the whims of the Oval Office.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • Sear in a hot pan coated in a thin layer of oil until the meat is browned to your liking.
    Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 June 2025
  • And that there are fewer and fewer reporters doing them, even as governments and others hire more and more flaks to spin events to their liking.
    Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 10 June 2025
Noun
  • By doing it for them, AI robs children of the joy and the work of their imagination.
    Lindsey Witmer Collins, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • However, on a deeper level, Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang remind us of the power of imagination, the importance of friendship, and the bittersweet nature of growing up.
    Meg Walters, EW.com, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • In a visual narrative medium (a play, a film, a TV show) everything a character thinks, feels, believes, remembers, imagines, the audience must infer from what the actor is doing with body and face and voice.
    Benjamin Hale June 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
  • But why should God be imagined as human—heavens, dogs are nobler creatures, to say nothing of whales or oak trees—and why as a man?
    Campbell McGrath, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Diano enjoyed an impressive senior season and credited USA Powerlifting coach Brent Guillen, American Heritage-Delray coach Rachel Batista and strength and conditioning coach Lyndon Bell.
    Alex Kushel, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2025
  • It’s supposed to be a time to bond with your kids, enjoy nature, and maybe escape stresses of day-to-day life.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 20 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fancy. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fancy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!