Synonym Chooser

How is the word think distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of think are conceive, envisage, envision, fancy, imagine, and realize. While all these words mean "to form an idea of," think implies the entrance of an idea into one's mind with or without deliberate consideration or reflection.

I just thought of a good joke

When is it sensible to use conceive instead of think?

Although the words conceive and think have much in common, conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design.

conceived of a new marketing approach

How do envisage and envision relate to one another, in the sense of think?

Both envisage and envision imply a conceiving or imagining that is especially clear or detailed.

envisaged a totally computerized operation
envisioned a cure for the disease

When is fancy a more appropriate choice than think?

The synonyms fancy and think are sometimes interchangeable, but fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

When might imagine be a better fit than think?

The words imagine and think can be used in similar contexts, but imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

When can realize be used instead of think?

In some situations, the words realize and think are roughly equivalent. However, realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

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 think Rauschenberg’s world became bigger, grander, a sky filled with unbridled gesture and thought. Hilton Als, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025 There are also concerns that the health impact on the city of more than 3 million people could be more significant than currently thought. Elisha Iragi, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025 Researchers have thought this mechanism could apply to healthy people’s inner speech as well—though that has been difficult to study and verify. Hannah Seo, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2025 Some thought the deal would get done; one source even thought it was completed. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for think
Recent Examples of Synonyms for think
Verb
  • Even if those traits have been on display for years and Antetokounmpo has stacked up great performances for over a decade, Turner believes people need to take time to appreciate his consistent excellence.
    Eric Nehm, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Officials believe that lightning was the cause of the fire.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Nineteenth-century reporters could be extremely casual with facts and guessed at the spelling of names.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Each round features challenges and trivia as contestants try to guess how everyday Americans think and live.
    Peter White, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • We’re largely left to imagine her fears for an uncertain future, her grief for an unknown, unborn child and her thoughts on becoming a symbolic figure in the outside world, with another woman’s name to boot.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
  • And if that can happen to retail giants with decades of consumer goodwill, imagine the stakes for entertainment and cultural brands — where loyalty is fleeting, audiences are global and competition is relentless.
    Kimberly S. Reed, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • El Camello has fallen silent, considering what to say next.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The indictment specifically alleges Alcalá, was tasked with coordinating drug-trafficking activities with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a Marxist guerrilla group, considered by Washington to be a terrorist organization that has for decades funded itself via the drug trade.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • And among the less conversationally direct, the topic often seems to lurk on the fringes as locals in other countries try to more delicately approach politics and discern how US travelers feel about what’s going on at home.
    Terry Ward, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Specific details of conversations remain unclear, but the meeting suggests that Comcast feels that there is still a path forward for a deal, in spite of concerns — aired in the press — about the likelihood of regulatory troubles in the US.
    Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Think.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/think. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

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