fantasy 1 of 2

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
And, once again, fantasies of surgical strikes are yielding to messy realities. Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2026 In such a production, the fantasy at the story’s center can’t become contagious. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026 Anthony Marchese, chairman of Texas Mineral Resources Corporation, told Fortune earlier this week the president’s hope of mining those rare earths is nearly a fantasy. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026 All of Meow Wolf’s exhibitions have a sci-fi bent, and Los Angeles will be no different, with many a nod to films of science fiction and fantasy. Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fantasy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fantasy
Noun
  • Sadly, his college ball dreams didn’t come to fruition after the coach who called him up retired.
    Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Over the past seven years, Blake Lively brought her dream hair care line to life by redefining the beauty industry with a blend of passion, precision and purpose.
    Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • For their part, many voters always seem to be searching for some idealized candidate who exists only in their imagination.
    Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The Visionary Award recognizes an individual who has uniquely and consistently employed the art and science of VFX to foster imagination and ignite future discoveries by way of artistry, invention and groundbreaking work.
    Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This pioneering anthology changed the direction of Yiddish studies, bringing to light previously untranslated short fiction and memoirs by eighteen Yiddish women writers.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Steeped in the speculative fiction tradition of Black Southern horror, Sinners is a tale about America that is both familiar and foreign depending on who’s watching the movie.
    Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Bagehot and other upholders of depoliticizing enchantments could not have imagined a scenario in which Andrew, once second in line for the throne, and Larry Summers, a former Ivy League president hailed as one of America’s leading public intellectuals, are caught up in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
    Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Some of that was real, some of it was exaggerated, some of it was just imagined — and all of it became a potent, highly motivating political narrative.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Everything that appears normal is an illusion, a bigger lie than The Big Lie.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
  • The creative team includes movement by Steven Hoggett, sets by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, music by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry and illusions by Jamie Harrison.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Studies have shown that routine use of AI has a deleterious impact on cognition, creativity, recall, and critical thinking.
    Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 25 Jan. 2026
  • His interests reflect both his creativity and his energetic spirit.
    MARE Staff, Boston Herald, 25 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The podcast is a fascinating artifact, the tale of a woman still untangling her role as both victim and victimizer.
    Jillian Steinhauer, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
  • What unfolds is not just a thriller about biotechnology run amok, but a cautionary tale about a culture where the line between health and the pursuit of a narrow beauty ideal is troublingly blurry.
    Virgie Tovar, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • For Hunter Henry, merely winning was hard enough to envision once.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 25 Jan. 2026
  • But the Navy air station on the territory closed in 1948, and the islands never became the significant military asset once envisioned.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fantasy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fantasy. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on fantasy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!