variants
also phantasy
1
as in dream
a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality
a constant daydreamer who started to believe his own fantasies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in to imagine
to form a mental picture of
She regularly fantasies exciting adventures.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 19 Feb. 2026
Sammy Coyle is part of an online romance and fantasy book club and says for months, about 45 members were looking forward to attending the Dreamers & Readers Festival.
—Erin Jones, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
No one was seriously expecting a fantasy draft where two Kyles (Tucker and Schwarber), Dylan Cease, Edwin Diaz, and Michael King all landed at Oracle Park in a single winter afternoon.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
Impeccably structured, draped and embroidered, these are the dresses of awards show red carpet fantasies, works of art with a splash of cool.
—Anika Reed, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fantasy
Noun
The audience is not privy to whether this tale is real or a fantasy, though either way, Haroun renders it beautifully in collaboration with cinematographer Mathieu Giombini.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 19 Feb. 2026
Sammy Coyle is part of an online romance and fantasy book club and says for months, about 45 members were looking forward to attending the Dreamers & Readers Festival.
—Erin Jones, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
No one was seriously expecting a fantasy draft where two Kyles (Tucker and Schwarber), Dylan Cease, Edwin Diaz, and Michael King all landed at Oracle Park in a single winter afternoon.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
Impeccably structured, draped and embroidered, these are the dresses of awards show red carpet fantasies, works of art with a splash of cool.
—Anika Reed, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fantasy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fantasy
Noun
-
Being cheated on or in an abusive relationship can leave a deep imprint on one’s psyche and lead to an ex appearing in dreams.—
Lisa Wong Macabasco,
Vogue,
15 Feb. 2026
-
What initially appears to be a Marxist dream state soon reveals itself as a system maintained through algorithmic control and absolute surveillance.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
We are limited only by our imagination as to the best use of this wonderful site.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
-
We are then limited only by our own imagination and ability to create.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Other viewers may be left wondering why all of this merits a full-length movie, or at least one that unconvincingly tries to turn fact into fiction.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
-
For fiction that fails to challenge preexisting views and assumptions is nothing more than idle chatter—small talk.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This was the right choice—the drama of the sandy shore, contrasted by the vivid blue-green of the sea, is too harmonious a pairing to imagine interrupting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The aesthetic was likely imagined and brought to life by Oakley-Green herself, as her stylist Karen Clarkson has yet to credit the hair artist on her glam team.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And the safety of inaction is an illusion.—
Brendan Keegan,
Rolling Stone,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Lea Haddad's luscious, curly mane no doubt employs some invisible layers to lighten the load, but the overall appearance gives the illusion of the same sharp, heavy-ended finish created by blunt cuts.—
Krista Carter,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
At the same time, the report highlights growing concern about the impact of AI on timelines and perceptions of creativity.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
-
In the heart of Berlin, Museum Island unfolds as a grand cultural ensemble where five world-class institutions trace the arc of human creativity from antiquity to the 19th century.—
Melinda Sheckells,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The film vaguely follows the basic outline of the first half of the novel, heavily streamlining the twisted tale of family strife and generational trauma into a more conventional tragic romance centered squarely on Catherine and Heathcliff.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The least satisfying tales involve a group of reasonable counterparties teaming up against a single aggressor, like an Indiana man who’s turned his grandmother’s house into an unauthorized urban farm.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
It’s envisioned as a regional draw capable of hosting youth hockey, skating events, tournaments and other large indoor gatherings.—
Kendrick Calfee
February 14,
Kansas City Star,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Kottikollon does not envision guests arriving for an annual weeklong retreat only to return to daily life unchanged.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fantasy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fantasy. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
