fancy 1 of 3

fancy

2 of 3

noun

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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 to fans of Lewis Carroll, the animal creations of his fertile fancy are as real as any creature to be found at the zoo

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fancy

3 of 3

verb

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a fancy restaurant
an extravagant restaurant
a formal restaurant
a posh restaurant
a classy restaurant
a luxurious restaurant
fancy cars
flashy cars
lavish cars
snazzy cars
swanky cars
fancy clothes
formal clothes
glamorous clothes
dressy clothes
fabulous clothes
extravagant clothes

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fancy distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of fancy are conceive, envisage, envision, imagine, realize, and think. While all these words mean "to form an idea of," fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

When could conceive be used to replace fancy?

The words conceive and fancy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 fancy?

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

Where would imagine be a reasonable alternative to fancy?

The meanings of imagine and fancy largely overlap; however, imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

When would realize be a good substitute for fancy?

While the synonyms realize and fancy are close in meaning, realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

When can think be used instead of fancy?

In some situations, the words think and fancy are roughly equivalent. However, 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

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 fancy
Adjective
Wimbledon cannot get out of its own way The fanciest of our tennis majors can’t go a day without a controversy that seems silly. Chris Branch, New York Times, 7 July 2025 Reading a gossip rag in a fancy L.A. salon hit different from reading it in my dentist’s office back home, 3,000 miles away from all the celebrities sprawled across the pages. Sarah Hartshorne, Vulture, 7 July 2025
Noun
The 120fps quality is as clear as day, too, bolstered by the bigger screen and fancy, magnetic Joy-Con 2s. Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025 The idea of a catalogue of lesbians seized her fancy. Charlie Tyson, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
Verb
Murry, who fancied himself a songwriter, encouraged and prodded his sons, who cut a few tunes at Keen Recording Studios at the behest of his music publisher, Hite Morgan. Roy Trakin, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2025 In the late 1970s, punk briefly ruled the roost and the genre’s DIY ethic struck a chord with fans who had grown tired of the music press and fancied having a go themselves. Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for fancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fancy
Adjective
  • The disappearance of such detailed emissions data removes immediate pressure and scrutiny, allowing polluters to continue claiming to take action to curb emissions while doing nothing of the sort.
    Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • They are also known for their minimally invasive techniques, smooth recovery experiences, and detailed post-operative support.
    Connie Etemadi, AZCentral.com, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Whether your hair is naturally dry or parched from excessive color treatments and heat styling, brittle strands are a stubborn bummer.
    Annie Blackman, Glamour, 14 July 2025
  • Early signs include excessive panting, drooling, lethargy and weakness.
    Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • After having her Star Wars dreams come true by playing fan-favorite Fennec Shand in The Mandalorian, Ming-Na Wen recently realized another exciting vision with a role in The Karate Kid franchise in the new film Karate Kid: Legends.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
  • With the help of a starlet named Vera, her dream of meeting him slowly takes shape.
    Marta Balaga, Variety, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • Only 24% of voters today recognize that their future benefits are subject to the whims of Congress and the president.
    Scott Rasmussen, Boston Herald, 6 July 2025
  • Adapting to the whims of a star is no small task, however.
    Phil Plait, Scientific American, 3 July 2025
Noun
  • Avs coach Jared Bednar took a bit of a liking to him last year before the suspension.
    Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 10 July 2025
  • Neeson recalls taking an immediate liking to the idea of starring in a Naked Gun reboot.
    EW.com, EW.com, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • Social media has become much of the atmosphere in the telling and digestion of crimes in the American public’s imagination of them.
    Jim Halterman, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
  • Like a game of cat-and-mouse, society will need to be vigilant and remain alert for those who let their imaginations roam wildly.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • Even though no one ever could have imagined it at the time, the Yankees weren’t going to win Torre one more Series, weren’t even going to make it back there even after having led three games to none.
    Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 5 July 2025
  • Growing up, the Chicago native never imagined a career rearing dozens of Gloucestershire Old Spots pigs in Klevenville, Wisconsin — an agricultural enclave surrounded by creeping neighborhoods of the state’s capital and surrounding communities.
    Bennet Goldstein, jsonline.com, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • Buckingham Palace has confirmed that President Donald Trump will enjoy an unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 14 July 2025
  • Serving breakfast, an all-day menu, and dinner, everything can also be ordered directly to your room or enjoyed in the communal terrace dining space.
    Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fancy. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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