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
In that span, Egbuka was WR3 (overall and in fantasy points per game) with 25 receptions for 445 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 38 targets. Jake Ciely, New York Times, 22 July 2026 Dynasty fantasy football owners should eye three running backs poised for significant value increases in 2026. Steve Bradshaw, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 As a young adult, Paul worked at a lumber yard and had fantasies of working a straight job as an accountant. Steve Appleford, SPIN, 20 July 2026 The walls had a nominal utility as fences for the dairy herd that was milked in the great white cow barn, but this was only ever a Gilded Age fantasy of the rustic idyll. Matt Seaton, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fantasy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fantasy
Noun
  • Lestat’s standing at the precipice of the sweet hereafter, and this episode is his death dream.
    Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • Skyroot will need a lot more funding to realize that dream, but Saturday’s launch showed the company has ingredients required for a successful launch company.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 19 July 2026
Noun
  • The new college will build on the California College of the Arts' legacy, integrating advanced technology with artistic imagination and design to cultivate future creators.
    Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • The bricks allow children and fans to build anything from their imagination, according to the release.
    Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026
Noun
  • The intricacy with which Whitehead details the planning and execution of this caper marks him as a top-tier researcher — he’s drawn on many primary sources to ground this work of fiction in historical fact.
    Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
  • In much of literary fiction, characters and settings are developed slowly, through the gradual accrual of discrete moments that rarely stray from the mundane and the reasonable.
    Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
Verb
  • Whether real or imagined, the stigma is there, making this particular crisis one that Taco Bell needs to address in full force.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • What comes next is going to be strange and, at times, controversial (imagine animal studies in this coming era).
    Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • This practice, driven by post-crisis regulations like Basel III, creates an illusion of safety for commercial banks, which show 5-8% more excess capital.
    Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Warm off-white paint creates the illusion of a larger kitchen.
    Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 16 July 2026
Noun
  • Given Nolan’s famous aversion to AI, there was a relief in knowing this incredible display of creativity came primarily from practical effects and shooting on location.
    Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • Now these artists are exploring the relationship between humor and faith with audiences that are feeling the impact of artificial intelligence on creativity and culture.
    ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • At 55, the Academy Award–winning actor had to train hard and eat right to maintain the body of a hero worthy of a generation-spanning epic tale.
    Max Berlinger, Vogue, 20 July 2026
  • But even within the movie’s powerful melodrama sits a secondary tale of fascistic process, one that speaks truth to power through implication and whisper.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 July 2026
Verb
  • Ultimately, Pasupalak doesn't envision AI replacing meaningful human work so much as eliminating the operational burden that prevents leaders from focusing on it.
    Victor Dey, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • Juan Rulfo infused his novel Pedro Páramo with half a century of political and economic violence, envisioning rural Mexico as a mythic space where past and present overlap.
    Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fantasy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fantasy. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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