as in imagining
to form a mental picture of
all those lottery players fantasizing themselves as living in extravagant luxury
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of fantasizing
Storylines like this, in our age of escalating eat-the-rich sentiment, allow viewers to vicariously enjoy beautiful homes and high-maintenance bodies while also fantasizing about (or, for more comfortable audiences, safely exploring fears of) class warfare.
—
Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
The story follows trauma nurse Aly Cappellucci, who obsesses over masked men on social media, fantasizing about them chasing her down.
—Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 26 Jan. 2026
But what was more interesting to me are those who aren’t fantasizing about being in a fictional world, but who are fantasizing about being a different reader, in a more secure nonfictional world.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 13 Jan. 2026
The irony here is that many in Washington have been openly fantasizing about how advanced AI systems could revolutionize military strategy and reshape geopolitics—to such an extent that this speculation has fueled a kind of arms race with China.
—Damon Beres, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
In the face of that reality—the death, functionally, of the American dream—millennials, Gen Zers and Gen Alphaers have started fantasizing about the abolition of money, of technology, of progress entirely, to the point of dreaming about regressing away from humanity itself.
—Hazlitt, 3 Dec. 2025
Civility ⬇ Virginia's Jay Jones sent texts fantasizing about shooting a Republican opponent, then won his race for attorney general.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Luis hangs a poster of his favorite movie star, Ingrid, and spends his time fantasizing about Ingrid as Aurora.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025
The Brewers arrived in Chicago holding a two-game lead and fantasizing about resting their staff after a sweep.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
The story follows trauma nurse Aly Cappellucci, who obsesses over masked men on social media, fantasizing about them chasing her down.
—Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 26 Jan. 2026
But what was more interesting to me are those who aren’t fantasizing about being in a fictional world, but who are fantasizing about being a different reader, in a more secure nonfictional world.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 13 Jan. 2026
The irony here is that many in Washington have been openly fantasizing about how advanced AI systems could revolutionize military strategy and reshape geopolitics—to such an extent that this speculation has fueled a kind of arms race with China.
—Damon Beres, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
In the face of that reality—the death, functionally, of the American dream—millennials, Gen Zers and Gen Alphaers have started fantasizing about the abolition of money, of technology, of progress entirely, to the point of dreaming about regressing away from humanity itself.
—Hazlitt, 3 Dec. 2025
Civility ⬇ Virginia's Jay Jones sent texts fantasizing about shooting a Republican opponent, then won his race for attorney general.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Luis hangs a poster of his favorite movie star, Ingrid, and spends his time fantasizing about Ingrid as Aurora.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025
The Brewers arrived in Chicago holding a two-game lead and fantasizing about resting their staff after a sweep.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fantasizing
Verb
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Greg Pirio bought his home in the northern Virginia suburbs more than a dozen years ago, never imagining a massive data center would be his neighbor.—
Natalie Brand,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
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After reigniting their own love for the game, spending hours on end at Chess Forum, one of the oldest chess clubs in New York, Z began imagining how to cultivate their own space that celebrated learning and teaching the game in a way emphasizing communing and knowing one's neighbors.—
Inés Anguiano,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Principal Michael Ferzoco founded the interior design firm in 2005, envisioning a novel and increasingly collaborative approach.—
Elizabeth Stamp,
Architectural Digest,
10 Feb. 2026
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But the Republican president’s ambitions have expanded to envisioning the board as a mediator of worldwide conflicts, a not very subtle attempt to eclipse the Security Council, which is charged with ensuring international peace and security.—
Edith M. Lederer,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Naturally, news of such unrest has Chiefs fans dreaming big.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
5 Feb. 2026
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REM sleep is when dreaming occurs.—
Kaan Ozcan,
NBC news,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Later on Monday, Croft recalled seeing a large tent standing in the middle of the roadway while numerous law enforcement officers investigated the scene.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
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The second citation refers to Christ’s reaction to seeing the tomb of Lazarus.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The trio created fake Minnesota temporary drivers’ licenses using false names, with each license picturing one of the Thomases, federal prosecutors said.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
9 Feb. 2026
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Instead of picturing that exercise as long and gruesome, try breaking it up.—
Avery Newmark,
AJC.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fantasizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fantasizing. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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