fantasy 1 of 2

noun

ˈfan-tə-sē How to pronounce fantasy (audio)
variants also phantasy
Definition of fantasynext
1
as in dream
a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality a constant daydreamer who started to believe his own fantasies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

as in to imagine
to form a mental picture of She regularly fantasies exciting adventures.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Elon Musk and this sort of fantasy of a future techno-utopia Gaza. — Tonya Mosley, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026 It’s supposed to be a portal that Kris steps through to get into Billy’s world of play that she’s constructed, almost this fantasy world. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026 Throughout the first twenty years of our history as digital storytellers, family-life representation has continued on the same trajectory that started with the fantasy-family home videos first made by amateur filmmakers in the 1920s and ’30s. — Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026 Showrunner Ryan Condal has said that the fantasy drama was written with this structure from the beginning and that the best is still yet to come. — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fantasy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fantasy
  1. dream
  2. imagination
  3. fiction
  4. imagine
  5. illusion
  6. creativity
  7. tale
  8. envision
Noun
  • Fairview’s board thought hard before committing to such a costly venture, but had a dream, said Edie Kalin, president of the Odd Fellows Home of CT.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The trio’s minimalist approach to electronic pop music — which draws from dream pop, electro-rock and other styles — has aged impeccably over the years.
    — Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of dream
Noun
  • And with a resume of iconic roles that have encouraged creativity, imagination and bravery, Andrews says exploring her own voice through literature has been rewarding.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026
  • What's captured many people's imagination, though, is how the whole thing unfolded.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of imagination
Noun
  • For the science-fiction concepts underpinning that world, including gravity control, faster-than-light communication and cognitive materialization, Kamiyama worked with novelist Toh EnJoe, credited as SF setting supervisor, as an outside arbiter.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026
  • In the new science-fiction mystery The End of Oak Street, Hathaway stars alongside Ewan McGregor as a couple whose family comes face-to-face with dinosaurs in their neighborhood.
    — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of fiction
Verb
  • That sentiment inspires Sony Vizha – a celebration of Tamil culture, deeply rooted in emotion and imagined for a wider world.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The right mix of true and imagined can give the simplest of humane narratives — in this case, the possibility of renewal in an epidemic of hurt — a fresher chance to touch us.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of imagine
Noun
  • Published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, 95 people—Millennial and Gen Z men and women, all of whom had a history of using Instagram for an average of eight years—underwent a virtual reality experience called body illusions.
    — Nicole Karlis, Allure, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The irony, of course, is that this very haphazardness is orchestrated by Dante, who is putting all the references together with intention — the intention of creating the illusion of no intention, of chaos.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of illusion
Noun
  • Both songs, like much of Ono’s musical and visual work, underline and encourage community, humanity, and creativity in everyone while simultaneously excoriating a pervasive malevolence.
    — Katherine Turman, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2026
  • High school seniors are embracing nostalgic backpacks as a way to reflect on their childhood and express creativity.
    — Melissa Willets, Parents, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of creativity
Noun
  • No two tales of what happened to Maelor after his knight protector was shot dead agree, but the young boy was also slain on the bridge, perhaps torn apart by the mob who assailed him, arguing over what to do with the young prince.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • This time, though, there’s more heavy metal influence — more guitar, more drums, more church organ, more attitude — to complement Cathedral’s grim tale.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of tale
Verb
  • Mahony envisions Addition Wealth as the ambient financial infrastructure supporting every major life decision, moving beyond a mere workplace benefit.
    — Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Previously, Davies has said the development site, a 640-acre business park known as Cornerstone, has long been envisioned for such a development, requiring minor planning steps to accommodate the data center campus.
    — Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of envision

Browse Nearby Words

fantasts
fantasy
fantasying
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fantasy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fantasy. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on fantasy

Nglish: Translation of fantasy for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about 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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All