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 Okay, that sounds nice, but not two houses in Manhattan, owning an Audi, and not thinking Gucci is expensive nice. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026 David Spade thinks people have gotten a little too comfortable being offended. — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Once thought to be an entertainment sector slowly bleeding out, pinball has come back in a big way in recent years. — ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026 In January 2025, a Cobb Fendley engineer sent an email to the village saying that the company thought a 100-year storm would bring six times the volume of the July 2024 flood that destroyed Jarvis and McKay’s home. — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for think

Recent Examples of Synonyms for think

Verb

For that reason, Republicans believe the seat is a likely pickup this fall in what is otherwise a difficult midterm environment.

— David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, Head of National Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK, said police believed the country Abdulkarim was assisting was Iran.

— Reuters, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of believe

Verb

That Bell was the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes was still known to only a handful of people, including Robert Louis Stevenson, who had by then guessed the truth.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
To keep potentially sensitive information from being accessible to unintended people, the URLs typically contain a long sequence of text that can’t be easily guessed.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of guess

Verb

Beirut City Pop, the latest compilation by archival label Habibi Funk, tells the story of the artists who dared to imagine a life beyond war.

— Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
For one thing, imagine an election campaign fought on populist policies such as raising welfare grants and public sector hiring sprees.

— Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of imagine

Verb

Marketed under the brand name Keytruda, pembrolizumab is considered to be something of a wonder drug in its own right, with just 30% of patients relapsing in the first two years of treatment.

— Mike McRae October 25, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026
Operators must consider what happens when that material eventually returns to Earth.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of consider

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 27 Oct. 2026.

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