fay 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of faynext
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

fay

2 of 2

noun

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

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 fay
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
  1. playful
  2. fairy
  3. merry
  4. elf
  5. faerie
  6. goblin
  7. dwarf
Adjective
  • That hasn’t changed much on Heavy Is the Crown, especially since Cordae spends a chunk of this otherwise fleet and playful album lagging behind his sparring partner.
    — Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Qiu’s eloquence lies in such playful gestures, which are pleasurable for their own sake.
    — Mark Asch, Variety, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of playful
Noun
  • For the longest time, there was this pretty, ethereal sound, as if a fairy were about to appear before me, but the fairy never appeared.
    — Souvankham Thammavongsa, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Traditional string lights offer a familiar, eye-catching glow, while fairy lights create a delicate sparkle that lets your ornaments take center stage.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of fairy
Adjective
  • In the days leading up to the Christmas party Lexi and Ridge’s attempt to pair up their parents brings them closer together and their merry matchmaking ends in surprising results.
    — Rachel LaBonte, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Rather than getting stuck or trying to figure out a way to navigate around an obstacle, the robot can simply leap over it and continue on its merry way.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of merry
Noun
  • But the pièce de résistance is the Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt, which sends kids searching throughout the Pyramid for six mischievous elves in exchange for a special reward.
    — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Filters that transform users into playful characters, like elves or puppies, will remain available for young people.
    — Chloe Veltman, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of elf
Noun
  • Maeve learns that the legends she was raised on — stories of faeries, kelpies and seelies — are actually true.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
  • The plays are set in locations as varied as courts, forests, battlefields, and even the realm of faerie.
    — Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
Definition of faerie
Noun
  • The concept had the goblin going out to a bar, hoping to charm the princess.
    — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • From glittering ghosts, ghastly goblins and wicked witches to wily warlocks, fashion can inspire any Halloween transformation.
    — Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of goblin
Noun
  • While most citrus trees are too large for indoor growing, there are a few small or dwarf varieties of citrus that can be kept indoors year-round in pots.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 16 Oct. 2026
  • These explosions, known as hypernovas, were first proposed to explain unusual stars in the halo of our galaxy, the Milky Way, and in a neighboring dwarf galaxy.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of dwarf

Browse Nearby Words

fawns
fay
fays
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Cite this Entry

“Fay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fay. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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