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
Björk has long made the case for fashion as connective tissue between sound, body, nature, technology, and fantasy. — Mosha Lundström Halbert, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2026 Brittany Cavallaro Brittany Cavallaro is the New York Times bestselling author of the Charlotte Holmes novels, including A Study in Charlotte, and the historical fantasy duology Muse (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books). — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026 While other Sphere productions have focused on theatrical reinterpretations of artists’ tracks, Metallica’s story remains firmly rooted in the narrative of noise, with the Sphere’s complementary visual fantasy as the icing on the cake. — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026 Quinshon Judkins delivers another Trent Richardson throwback performance Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins just delivered a perfectly usable fantasy performance on Thursday night, gaining 96 total yards and reaching the end zone. — Andy Behrens, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fantasy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fantasy
Noun
  • The hoarder’s house functions as the deferred dream, the repository of all frustration.
    — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Each contestant must pitch, prototype and perfect their dream dish with their creations then stress-tested for taste, kitchen feasibility, and trialled with real customers, to win a place on the menu.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Welcome to Miyazawa’s fantastical world, where nature, imagination, and a quiet sense of morality coexist.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2026
  • De Brigard’s research shows just how intertwined our brain’s memory is with imagination.
    — Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Films today tend to err on the side of length in a way that can feel like fiction being distended.
    — Elissa Suh, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Since then, she’s produced and/or directed numerous fiction releases, as well as memoirs by the likes of Diane Keaton and Prince Harry.
    — Brian Raftery, Vanity Fair, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Our work re-imagines these ancient tombs as theatrical spaces, built to perpetuate a form of metaphysical human experience.
    — Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
  • But what chance would American soldiers have against a country whose military doctrine has already imagined active resistance in populated areas, backed by citizens who could potentially provide intelligence, surveillance and other forms of support?
    — Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • But recent Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia’s oil refineries have led to widespread fuel shortages, shattering the illusion that the consequences of the conflict are far removed from ordinary Russians.
    — Zahra Ullah, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Use your illusion Hancock and his team combined multiple lines of evidence to test their hypothesis that the colorful wing patterns of butterflies served as a form of motion dazzle.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 30 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Knowledge workers such as scientists, teachers, lawyers and business leaders are increasingly using generative artificial intelligence applications for tasks that demand imagination, creativity and problem-solving.
    — Monideepa Tarafdar, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Duncan Wardle, author of The Imagination Emporium and former Disney VP of innovation and creativity, now leads iD8 & innov8.
    — Duncan Wardle, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The play is a gently unfolding, calmly delivered tale of the decades of horrors endured by a real-life person named Eddie Jaku.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • And for Netflix, Bayona helmed Society of the Snow, a drama based on the true-life tale of the Uruguayan 1972 Andes flight disaster.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • In the long term, the startup is envisioning a global network of O-factories that would bring manufacturing closer to the major markets of fashion brands.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • So in 1995 — which wound up being the Wildcats’ watershed Rose Bowl season — Northwestern started to envision a big renovation.
    — Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fantasy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fantasy. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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