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
And as everyone with a fancy cookbook knows, a complicated recipe—with ingredients and spices and sauces not otherwise in your larder—can sometimes cost as much as a night out on the town. Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 18 May 2025 One thing for certain, Trusty said, is that the fancy cars, houses and planes that Combs has accumulated are in the prosecutors’ crosshairs, as are any of his companies that could broadly be construed as being part of the racketeering enterprise in the slightest of ways. Josh Meyer, USA Today, 15 May 2025
Noun
While the flashy, often unusual Alienware design won’t be for everyone, the HP Omen Max's more low-key appearance may tickle your fancy. Jade Chung-Lee, PC Magazine, 6 May 2025 Benedictine Sandwiches If a heavy Hot Browns isn’t your jam, especially on a warm spring day, the Derby has another traditional sandwich that may better suit your fancy. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
There’s a decent chance of success; the North London team is better than semi-final opponent Bodo/Glimt and would fancy its chances against Manchester United or Athletic Bilbao. Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025 In simple terms, the manager either did not fancy risking his striker’s fitness or did not fancy him full-stop, preferring Mateo Joseph and Joel Piroe. Beren Cross, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fancy
Adjective
  • Related: Read our SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy guide for a detailed look $47.99 at Amazon Starship Die Cast Rocket Model Now $47.99 on Amazon.
    Tariq Malik, Space.com, 23 May 2025
  • Specialized Technologies, Equipment And Engineering Solutions Project Cargo demands the use of highly specialized equipment, selected and configured based on detailed engineering assessments.
    Umberto Cavallaro, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Manson warns, however, that excessive amounts of vitamin D can lead to a higher calcium level in blood and urine, and some calcification may occur in the blood vessels and in the soft tissue.
    Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 27 May 2025
  • The excessive heat watch will be in effect from 11 a.m. Friday, May 30, through 11 p.m. Saturday, May 31, according to the National Weather Service.
    Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • Studying at Columbia—the home of such Palestinian scholars as Edward Said and Rashid Khalidi—had always been a dream of Khalil’s.
    Aida Alami, New Yorker, 21 May 2025
  • However, as humanity stands on the precipice of a technological revolution, particularly with the convergence of quantum computing and artificial intelligence the sustainability and viability of UBI as a global approach might no longer be a distant dream but a tangible reality.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • Automatic bids would provide a layer of protection for the blue bloods from the whims of a committee that uses an inscrutable process.
    Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 22 May 2025
  • The scope of these enormous solar storms is important to understand for technology experts in the 21st century, which is much more vulnerable to the whims of the sun due to society's dependence on electronic systems and space technologies.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • Exchanges are not for comparing notes or calling each other’s attention to something that was not done to your liking.
    Jann Blackstone, Boston Herald, 25 May 2025
  • In March, the United States proposed an immediate, limited 30-day truce, which Ukraine accepted, but the Kremlin has held out for terms more to its liking.
    SAMYA KULLAB, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • Partnering with Hrithik Roshan is a step forward in realizing that vision, crafting a film where intensity meets imagination on a grand scale.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 May 2025
  • Theoretical physics has long held a special place in the scientific imagination — not just for its foundational questions, but for its strangeness.
    John Drake, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • Finally, imagine tucking your anxiety into a cozy box and carrying it gently in a small bag slung over your shoulder, wrote Beck.
    Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 30 May 2025
  • Olivia Jan, who worked on the Grassland Opera fragrance imagined the scent of the herbaceous orbexilum stipulatum flower.
    Nicole Mowbray, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • Chris Hemsworth is enjoying spending some time with his sons in paradise.
    Hannah Sacks, People.com, 27 May 2025
  • The few canneries based in the United States are enjoying the rise in popularity among Americans.
    Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 27 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fancy. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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