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
Expecting one meeting to fix everything was, of course, always a fantasy. Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 3 Aug. 2026 When her gaze falls on a stranger in the dining car, she’s overtaken by a fantasy involving a dashing army officer in Central Europe in the nineteen-twenties. Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 But the night went from spooky to spellbinding when the stars of the beloved 1998 fantasy film revealed themselves to the shocked crowd of fans. Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Aug. 2026 Season 3 so far has the highest Rotten Tomatoes score of any of the fantasy series’ seasons, with 91% on the review aggregate website. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fantasy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fantasy
Noun
  • Her fever dreams were of floating untethered in an infinite black space, of being trapped in a blinding spotlight on an empty stage, not knowing how or where to move.
    Rachel Yoder, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026
  • After shuttering some five decades later, the land was largely vacant until the former mayor of Seattle, Paul Schell, and his wife, Pam, built their dream hotel from the ground up.
    Katie Nanton, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Kikuko didn’t believe that poverty left no room for the imagination.
    Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But Mama’s imagination helps the time pass more quickly, and the duo become brave knights protecting from a dragon from a prince, or heroes capturing art thieves at a museum.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • At certain moments, her life possesses the brilliant vividness of fiction or myth.
    Ian Penman, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • His turbulent and controversial life supplied much of the material for his fiction.
    Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Noone arrived to translate with her 2-year-old on her hip and couldn’t imagine being separated from her baby like the woman in the facility.
    Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Though this spot is situated on the Upper West Side, Gluck imagined the fictional Claremont’s being located even further north in Manhattan's various Heights.
    Alex Jhamb Burns, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Neither side, however, is under any illusion about the nature of the enduring competition.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • As the bartender quieted whatever terrible hair-metal mixtape had been playing over the house PA, and the lights glowed red on the stage, Ryan was trying to create the illusion of a behind-the-curtain, big-stage, rock star entrance.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • This could also be colorful headphones that make your morning walk a bit more you, or a book that leaves you feeling inspired to explore more of your own creativity.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Scoot's leadership masterfully integrates creativity with commercial discipline, utilizing data to enhance, not dictate, judgment.
    Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The tale begins with a successful novelist in late middle age boarding a train after a publishing event.
    Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Politicians in both parties often used tales of Medicaid fraud on the part of providers and recipients to justify tighter eligibility rules and spending cuts.
    Ben Zdencanovic, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Rather than building another large beachfront resort, founder Miguel Quintana Pali envisioned a boutique retreat where architecture, art, nature, and Mexican culture would take center stage.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Young teaches himself to code and envisions an app that will focus on mental health and suicide prevention.
    Julia M. Klein, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fantasy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fantasy. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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