fancy 1 of 3

fancy

2 of 3

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

fancy

3 of 3

verb

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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
No fancy serums, no exfoliating acids—just clean skin, the mask, and vibes. Francesca Krempa, StyleCaster, 1 May 2025 Are his friends horrified by this textbook midlife crisis, down to the fancy sports car and younger girlfriend, or jealous of Nick’s freedom? Alison Herman, Variety, 1 May 2025
Noun
And if none of these suit your fancy, here are 14 more fantastic places to travel to find peace and relaxation. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2025 For Eli Roth in spring, however, his fancies tend to turn darker, more menacingly humorous, and toward the more bloodily outrageous. A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
With a new core of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, Phoenix fancied themselves as contenders, ready to score at will and propel themselves to basketball greatness on the strength of their offense. Mikai Bruce, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025 The New England Patriots have long fancied themselves a smart football organization. Chad Graff, The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fancy
Adjective
  • Overall, the cabin is finely detailed, comfortable, and luxurious.
    Jonny Lieberman, Robb Report, 12 May 2025
  • Sleep tracking is shockingly detailed, tracking things like skin temperature and even snoring.
    Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • These thunderstorms are producing an excessive amount of deadly cloud to ground lightning.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 16 May 2025
  • Among its findings were that Banks used excessive force and falsely imprisoned Myles; that Banks’ use of his dog violated Myles’ Fourth Amendment rights; that Banks and the county were both negligent; and that the county violated Myles’ civil rights by failing to properly train and supervise Banks.
    Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Career experts agree dream jobs and large salaries don't always come right away.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 10 May 2025
  • That’s quite simply the stuff that dreams are made of.
    Abby Monteil, Them., 9 May 2025
Noun
  • But no overhaul is forthcoming, leaving the CIA and its peers vulnerable to Trump’s demagoguery, and Americans vulnerable to the whims of a surveillance state.
    James Santel, The Atlantic, 8 May 2025
  • Nations with central banks that move interest rates at the whim of politicians tend to have inflation spikes and other economic troubles, experts have noted.
    Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • That's quite a compliment from the King of Horror, a man not known to keep mum if an adaptation of one of his works is not to his liking.
    Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 1 May 2025
  • Sweeten it to your liking with dates, maple syrup, or not at all.
    Laura Mclively, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • Think about what your family values about toys — their ability to teach and to ignite your kids’ imaginations while keeping them occupied for long stretches of time — and then commit to only bringing home toys that fit that criteria.
    Stephanie Ganz, Parents, 16 May 2025
  • Philadelphia captured everyone’s imagination with its Super Bowl beatdown of Kansas City and now is the NFL’s organizational measuring stick.
    Tim Graham, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Xu began to imagine what this might mean for people with cancer if histotripsy activates the human immune system in a similar way.
    Kristen Jordan Shamus, USA Today, 19 May 2025
  • The easiest life to imagine was the life of the man who ran the ferry.
    Patricia Lockwood, New Yorker, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • Guests can enjoy performances by DJ Quicksilva, DJ Flow, DJ P Drama, DJ Supream, and The Bearded Drummer while taking in the races from a luxury vantage point.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 15 May 2025
  • And while everyone tends to enjoy the release videos, the internet scrutiny surrounding the Colts might cause teams to think twice in the future.
    C. Isaiah Smalls II, Miami Herald, 15 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fancy. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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