IMAGINE Synonyms: 92 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'imagine' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of imagine are conceive , envisage , envision , fancy , realize , and think . While all these words mean "to form an idea of," imagine stresses a visualization. // imagine you're at the beach

Q: When is it sensible to use 'conceive' instead of 'imagine'?

While the synonyms conceive and imagine are close in meaning, conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design. // conceived of a new marketing approach

Q: How do 'envisage' and 'envision' relate to one another, in the sense of 'imagine'?

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

Q: When could 'fancy' be used to replace 'imagine'?

The words fancy and imagine are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires. // fancied himself a super athlete

Q: When is 'realize' a more appropriate choice than 'imagine'?

The meanings of realize and imagine largely overlap; however, realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined. // realized the enormity of the task ahead

Q: Where would 'think' be a reasonable alternative to 'imagine'?

The words think and imagine can be used in similar contexts, but 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

imagine

verb

i-ˈma-jən

Definition of imagine

as in to envision

to form a mental picture of she was determined to have the wedding that she had always imagined

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to think

to have as an opinion I imagine that's true, but you still have to prove it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to guess

to form an opinion from little or no evidence I imagine things will change rapidly once we begin

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word imagine distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of imagine are conceive, envisage, envision, fancy, realize, and think. While all these words mean "to form an idea of," imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

When is it sensible to use conceive instead of imagine?

While the synonyms conceive and imagine are close in meaning, 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 imagine?

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

When could fancy be used to replace imagine?

The words fancy and imagine are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

When is realize a more appropriate choice than imagine?

The meanings of realize and imagine largely overlap; however, realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

Where would think be a reasonable alternative to imagine?

The words think and imagine can be used in similar contexts, but 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 imagine What is sort of funny is imagining how immersion in the city’s cultural scene fits into Vanderbilt’s broader ambitions. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 26 Aug. 2026 But imagine receiving a new book every single month, having a parent sit beside you and read, and learning that books can belong to you. — Kristy High, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026 Tracie Hall, then-director of the Joyce Foundation’s Culture Program, imagined the CBDLP in partnership with the Logan Center for the Arts to help provide resources. — Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Musgraves found a silver lining while imagining Parton reuniting with her husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 at 82. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for imagine

Recent Examples of Synonyms for imagine

Verb

Even in the midst of this global struggle, Roosevelt contemplated the future and envisioned the critical role that a new United Nations might play.

— John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
But her team said DOLLYFEST will be the official celebration Parton herself envisioned, not a traditional memorial.

— Bryan West, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of envision

Verb

And think about Afghanistan as well, a huge military advantage there, but as US forces were finally being pulled out of there, the Taliban were once again taking control.

— Dana Taylor, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Two workers at Germany's Frankfurt airport who caught malaria from a mosquito thought to have arrived on a plane have died, the city's health authority said this week.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of think

Verb

Trust grows when transformation is communicated clearly instead of left for others to guess.

— Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Aug. 2026
Their performances keep the audience guessing about both characters until Holloway finally brings the pieces together in a tremendously satisfying finale.

— Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of guess

Verb

Institutional investors still seem to see growth opportunities, even if some sovereign wealth funds show signs of potential pullbacks.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 27 Aug. 2026
The expansion will see Amazon Web Services (AWS) deploy 2 million additional Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs) in fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of see

Verb

Flowers, who has been sidelined from practice in recent days, is believed to be dealing with a minor hamstring injury.

— Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Lamas claimed that Jackie believed that there was a link between her husband’s death and that of Marilyn Monroe, who died in 1962.

— Lara Walsh, InStyle, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of believe

Verb

Goldman’s model assumes SMIC will add between 30,000 and 50,000 advanced-node wafers in monthly capacity each year from 2026 through 2031.

— Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Golden Tempo, meanwhile, assumed his position near the back of the field as his deep closing style has delivered huge glory in the past.

— Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of assume

Verb

Sound’s Round 2 Impresario-musician Mike Reed’s multigenre, multivenue festival, Sound & Gravity, returns for its second year with acts like Son Lux (pictured, above) and Chicago’s Jessica Risker.

— Web Behrens, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
The person seen dropping off the Acura was pictured only in grainy video and appeared to be wearing a shirt without sleeves.

— Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of picture

Cite this Entry

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“Imagine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imagine. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of imagine

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Synonyms of imagine

verb

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