Mathematicians are poets, except that they have to prove what their fantasy creates.
Source: tatoeba (1793)
Fantasy
/ˈfæntəsi/
Synonyms for "fantasy" (292 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (59)
absence of mindabsentmindednessabsorptionabstractednessabstractionadventure storyalienationallegoryapologueapparitionappearanceardorassociateautismautistic thinkingavoidance mechanismbe absentbedtime storybemusementbizarrerie
Show 31 more words
blame-shiftingboutadebrainchildbrainstormbrown studybubblecapricciocapricecastle buildingcastle-buildingchimeracompensationconceitconceivingconcoctionconcupiscencecrankcrazecrazy ideacreativitycrotchetcuriositydaydreamdaydreamerdaydreamingdecompensationdefense mechanismdeliriumdelusiondepth of thoughtdereism
Strong matches (87)
dereistic thinkingdesiderationdesiredetective storydisplacementdissociationdivagatedreamdream ofdreamingdriveeagernesseidolonemotional insulationenchantmentengrossmentenvisioningescapeescape into fantasyescape mechanism
Show 48 more words
escapismextravagancefablefabliaufadfairy talefancyfantasizingfantasquefantastic notionfantasticismfantasyingferliefictionfigmentfigment of the imaginationfigurefit of abstractionflightflight of fancyflimflamfolk storyfolktalefool notionformfreakfreak outfreakish inspirationfumes of fancygestghost storygo woolgatheringgrotesqueriehallucinationharebrained ideahopehormehorse operahumorideaidealidle fancyidolumillusionimageimageryimaginationimaginativeness
Noun(16 words)
envisageenvisionfabricatefairytalefanciesfancifulfanciful thoughtfancyhypotheticalillusionimaginarinessimaginationimaginationsimaginative fictionimagineimagined
Related words (146)
imagininginsubstantial imageintellectual curiosityinventioninventivenessisolationkinklegendlibidolove storylust for learningmaggotmake believemake-believemarchenmasquerademegrimmindmiraclemirage
Show 102 more words
moonmooningmoonrakingmusemusefulnessmusingmuted ecstasymysterymystery storymythmythologymythosneednegativismnightmarenotionnursery taleoriginalityovercompensationparablepassing fancypassionphantasmphantasmaphantasmagoriaphantompipepipe dreampipe-dreampipe-dreamingpleasurepleasure principlepreoccupationpresenceprodigyprojectionpsychotaxisquirkrainbowrationalizationresistancereverieromancesci fiscience fictionsexual desireshadeshadowshapeshockersick fancysignsociological adjustive reactionsspace fictionspace operaspecterstargazestargazingstraystretch of the imaginationstudysublimationsubstitutionsuspense storythick-coming fanciesthirst for knowledgethrillertoytrancetripurgevagaryvaporvisionwaking dreamwalter mittywanderwantwantingwaywesternwestern storywesternerwhimwhim whamwhim-whamwhimsywhodunitwildest dreamwildest dreamswillwill and pleasurewishwish fulfillmentwish-fulfillment fantasywishful thinkingwithdrawalwonderwonderworkwoolgatheringwork of fictionwraith
Noun(20 words)
infatuationinventirrealitymagical fictionmythicmythic talemythicalphantasiesphantasmsphantasyphantasyingpipe dreamreveriesreveryspeculativesurrealismunattainable dreamunrealunrealismunrealistic dream
Adjective(4 words)
swedish dagdrömutopian visionwild ideawild imagination
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: absence of mind, absentmindedness, absorption, abstractedness, abstraction.
- Sentence evidence is available for fantasy, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "fantasy".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "fantasy"
Keep "fantasy" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "fantasy" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "fantasy", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "fantasy" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
20 entriesabstractioncognitioncognitive processconceive ofcreative actenvisagefictiongenreideaideateimaginationimaginative activityimaginativenessimaginemental activitymental process
Showing 16 of 20 words.
More specific
23 entriesShowing 16 of 23 words.
Collocations
14 entriescounterfactual scenariocreative imaginationfantasy artfantasy filmfantasy genrefantasy literaturefantasy novelfantasy settingfantasy worldhigh fantasyhypothetical scenarioimagined futuremental imageryurban fantasy
Inflections
6 entriesDerivations
5 entriesSample sentences
19 total sentences available.
Fantasy is often the mother of art.
Source: tatoeba (18170)
In his fantasy, he imagined he was a famous writer.
Source: tatoeba (18172)
A talking dictionary is no longer a fantasy.
Source: tatoeba (25460)
Showing 4 of 19 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "fantasy"?
Closest matches include absence of mind, absentmindedness, absorption, abstractedness, abstraction.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "fantasy"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.