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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Today, the practice has taken on a playful twist, with people reimagining themselves in royal attire for humor and novelty.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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Reeves was impressed with the script and, after meeting with Ansari in London, agreed to sign on for one of the most playful roles of his career (a scene with Rogen at a burger joint in which the angel learns to eat for the first time is an inspired bit of physical comedy).—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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From dreamy fairy shimmer that feels perfect for date night, to sultry wine tones that look just right wrapped around a glass of merlot at Sunday dinner, these nails are setting the mood for the season.—
Essence,
Essence,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Incurring the wrath of the fairy folk for spilling milk, that’s what.—
Lincee Ray Published,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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From a massive 9-foot fir to a charming 3-foot tabletop tree, score up to 58% off a one-time buy that’ll last for years of merry memories.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Aug. 2025
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While Materialists sticks to the bounds of its love triangle, Splitsville suggests the more, the merrier.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, the virtuous, near-immortal elves of Lothlórien are depicted living peacefully in a realm of lush flora and elaborate tree-houses.—
Ellen Walker,
JSTOR Daily,
3 Sep. 2025
-
This time it was set in a fantasy world where the player controls an elf whose race is fighting off hordes of otherworldly monsters.—
Joshua Lamb,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And thank the faeries for that.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
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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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Leigh Gill is set to play Griphook, after his brief appearance as another goblin, Red, in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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At their largest, Orchestina goblin spiders are about one-tenth of an inch long — smaller than a grain of rice.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fay. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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