as in playful
given to good-natured joking or teasing
with her slight build and perky manner, the actress was usually cast as the fay young woman who charms all the men in town
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in fairy
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers
in the tale a fay appears in the form of a beautiful and serene woman with an angelic air and a billowy gown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fay
Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Almshouse dwellers, sitting in the sun, watching the surging tide and the glistening water, tell of spirits and banshees and fays.
—Alexander Sammon, Harper's Magazine, 25 June 2022
Noun
The series stars McGregor as Count Rostov, a fay member of Czarist Russia’s ruling class, who was living in comfort in his estates until the revolution of 1917 overthrew the old order.
—Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Almshouse dwellers, sitting in the sun, watching the surging tide and the glistening water, tell of spirits and banshees and fays.
—Alexander Sammon, Harper's Magazine, 25 June 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fay
Adjective
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Hudson’s performance kicks into a surprising dramatic gear, the actress’s playful Milwaukee accent settling into a relatively somber key, grappling with dreams dashed.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Jan. 2026
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From minimalist finishes to playful graphics and elevated textures, these manicures set the tone for the year ahead, proving that short nails aren’t a fallback—they’re the focus.—
Kat Suico,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The series centers around Timmy Turner, a miserable 10-year-old whose life improves significantly after he is given two fairy godparents named Wanda and Cosmo.—
Will Harris,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Jan. 2026
-
The toy projects an AI hologram companion that resembles a dragon or fairy.—
Queenie Wong,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In fact, the more, the merrier!—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Our young hero Spike (Alfie Williams), having abandoned the secluded safety of his island home in the wake of his mother’s death, finds himself at the mercy of this merry band of bloodthirsty pranksters, shepherded by a sadistic Manson-esque leader, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell).—
Katie Walsh,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The reindeer team, the elf team — everyone will be there.—
Lauren Ashley Bishop,
Variety,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Jenkins dressed as Santa Claus at community events and the 6-feet-3-inch, 145-pound Bledsoe as an elf.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And thank the faeries for that.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
-
The Unseelie Court is the bastion of malevolent faeries who harm humans for their amusement or to exact revenge.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
27 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The plot follows a young girl who ends up wishing away her baby brother into the goblin labyrinth.—
Lucia Cheng,
Des Moines Register,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Henson was cast as Hoggle, one of the film’s most prominent goblins and Sarah’s reluctant ally, while also managing puppeteering responsibilities behind the scenes.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Skip cosmetic pruning of conifers during the coldest part of winter and delay shaping trims for ornamental yews, junipers, boxwoods, and tree-type conifers like dwarf spruces until after the new flush of growth in spring.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Jan. 2026
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Care Requirements When cultivating a dwarf apple tree indoors, choose a container with drainage holes that has a top diameter of 18 to 22 inches or a capacity of 15 to 25 gallons.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fay. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
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