THINK Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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

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

Although the words conceive and think have much in common, 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 'think'?

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 is 'fancy' a more appropriate choice than 'think'?

The synonyms fancy and think are sometimes interchangeable, but fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires. // fancied himself a super athlete

Q: When might 'imagine' be a better fit than 'think'?

The words imagine and think can be used in similar contexts, but imagine stresses a visualization. // imagine you're at the beach

Q: When can 'realize' be used instead of 'think'?

In some situations, the words realize and think are roughly equivalent. However, realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined. // realized the enormity of the task ahead

think

verb

ˈthiŋk

Definition of think

as in to believe

to have as an opinion I think we should wait for someone to come help us out

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How is the word think distinct from other similar verbs?

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

When is it sensible to use conceive instead of think?

Although the words conceive and think have much in common, 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 think?

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 is fancy a more appropriate choice than think?

The synonyms fancy and think are sometimes interchangeable, but fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

When might imagine be a better fit than think?

The words imagine and think can be used in similar contexts, but imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

When can realize be used instead of think?

In some situations, the words realize and think are roughly equivalent. However, realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

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 think London — Close your eyes, tap your heels together three times and think to yourself there’s no place like home. — Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 Paladin thinks that family connection should be compelling, though. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026 But few lawmakers think past the next election and their own political survival. — John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026 Two flat surfaces can stick together by suction—think plastic wrap against glass—but the texture allows air to flow between the tank and the LPU, so the film can release more gently from the edges. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for think

Recent Examples of Synonyms for think

Verb

Alderman maintains that each of the defendants have continued to lie to protect themselves and believes there is evidence of satanic worship.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2026
His eldest son Théo Saujet worked on the scent Les Caves, inspired by the iconic Saint-Tropez night club Les Caves du Roy, which Thomas Saujet believes will be the most multigenerational of all the fragrances.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of believe

Verb

So two games into the National League Championship Series, guess which team’s relief corps has been lights out and which one has been lit up?

— Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Police did not specify which roller coaster was involved in the incident, but CBS News Atlanta cameras saw that the park's Goliath ride was shut down, and guess were being evacuated.

— Todd Feurer, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of guess

Verb

Yet their willingness to talk, listen, and imagine what had seemed impossible helped lay the groundwork for historic nuclear arms reductions.

— Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
The sense that a resume goes straight into a black box isn’t imagined – applications per job have more than doubled since 2022, and the average company now has 56% fewer recruiters to review them.

— Owen Humphries, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of imagine

Verb

Legislators in at least 30 states have considered pricing bills this year, including measures addressing algorithmic and personalized pricing, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
Changing expectations or considering proposals without comparable information undermines confidence in both the process and its recommendations.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of consider

Verb

The music on Uncle feels innate, as if Funkhouser had dug these songs out from deep within the crawlspace in his brain.

— Jeff Yerger, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
Few people feel affection for insurance companies or hospital bureaucracies that often function less as providers of care than as barriers to it.

— Scott Levenson, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of feel

Browse Nearby Words

thingummy

think

thinkable

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“Think.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/think. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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