variants also phantasy
Definition of fantasynext
1
2
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 the painter gave free rein to his fantasy to create pictures that capture the kind of reality we experience only in our dreams

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in fiction
something that is the product of the imagination we were coming to the conclusion that the person Karen "saw" in the woods was another one of her fantasies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fantasy

2 of 2

verb

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 fantasy
Noun
Told in alternating POVs between a sorceress, a woman knight and a serving girl, this is a fever dream of a fantasy novel with plenty of room for readers to make their own inferences about what’s really going on. S.m. Hallow, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026 Anyone else scrambling to land rookie Fernando Mendoza and Taylor Swift's husband on their fantasy roster this season? Emily R. Condon, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 Matte paintings add to the fantasy The film’s production designers, Brandon Tonner-Connolly and Matt Hyland, explained in recent interviews that Schoenbrun wanted the movie’s visuals to be as emotionally charged as the subject matter. Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026 The project is launching from Clive Barker Ink, the author’s creative imprint, and Ensata Press, a publishing imprint focusing on horror, dark fantasy and genre fiction. Mya Copeland, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fantasy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fantasy
Noun
  • There had been little doubt Cristobal left a great situation at Oregon, but his dream job, the top rung for him, was always in Coral Gables.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026
  • But Jack and Chris, finally, must have been a dream come true.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 16 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The play blends fact, memory, and theatrical imagination, offering a glimpse into the creative forces behind one of the most influential works in American theater.
    Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Other exhibitions are devoted to individual artists of the 20th century, whose images connect modern imaginations with ancient emotions and beliefs.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • If Russia behaved badly, that was the fault of its primitive and cruel Asian side, a notion that conveniently created the fiction that Western countries are not capable of similar cruelty.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The project is launching from Clive Barker Ink, the author’s creative imprint, and Ensata Press, a publishing imprint focusing on horror, dark fantasy and genre fiction.
    Mya Copeland, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The barrel had been punctured several times and dumped far offshore, Spencer said, but whoever discarded the remains likely never imagined the reservoir’s shoreline would one day retract hundreds of feet.
    Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • On the other hand, severe inflation could produce the same nominal milestone while bitcoin purchased far less than enthusiasts imagine.
    Dave Birnbaum, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • But planning and repositioning are different exercises, and the space between them is exactly where the diversification illusion lives longest.
    Khalifa Aldhaheri, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shattered Europe’s remaining illusions not just about Moscow but also about Beijing.
    Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Students of color deserve to learn to trust themselves, to think expansively and critically, to delight in their creativity and to love reading, learning and writing.
    Kaliris Salas-Ramirez, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Mercury conjoins Jupiter in Leo and your 5th House of Self-Expression, making creativity, play, and performance feel larger than usual.
    Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • But the tale is even more poignant now, because as part of the team’s offensive transformation, fueled by the hiring of former Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith, the Vikings are handing Bredeson a hefty role.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The two dashing newcomers have since been regaling the Georgia Aquarium’s existing belugas, a quartet of females*, with tales of their peregrinations.
    AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Researchers envision bacteria on plant leaves or roots that detect stress and trigger responses without conventional electronics.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Just before the pandemic, Manhattan’s MCC Theater staged a show called All the Natalie Portmans, about a gay Black teenage cinephile who envisions the actor as a kind of manic pixie imaginary friend.
    Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fantasy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fantasy. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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