fay 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of faynext
as in playful
given to good-natured joking or teasing with her slight build and perky manner, the actress was usually cast as the fay young woman who charms all the men in town

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fay

2 of 2

noun

as in fairy
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers in the tale a fay appears in the form of a beautiful and serene woman with an angelic air and a billowy gown

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 fay
Noun
The series stars McGregor as Count Rostov, a fay member of Czarist Russia’s ruling class, who was living in comfort in his estates until the revolution of 1917 overthrew the old order. — Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025 Almshouse dwellers, sitting in the sun, watching the surging tide and the glistening water, tell of spirits and banshees and fays. — Alexander Sammon, Harper's Magazine, 25 June 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fay
  1. playful
  2. merry
  3. elf
  4. faerie
  5. goblin
Adjective
  • Pearl Breed: Pit terrier mix Age: 2 years old Pearl is a cuddly, goofy, playful pup looking for her forever home.
    — Trish Stinger, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025
  • This delightfully playful scent emulates the popstar’s flirty energy courtesy of a dazzling blend of vine-ripe cherries spiked with plum nectar, that’s then deepened with dark chocolate, patchouli, and vanilla orchid.
    — Mary Honkus, Glamour, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of playful
Adjective
  • Women deserve their own places at the top, and if that means more women are founding companies, the more, the merrier.
    — Liz Elting, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Personal differences, school commitments, and career opportunities threaten to permanently break up the merry band of role-players.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of merry
Noun
  • Featuring humans, elves, orcs and other fantastical creatures engaging in wars, treasure hunts and campaigns, the D&D game, one of Hasbro’s key franchise brands hailing from Wizards of the Coast, is overseen by a host, known as the Dungeon Master, and employs a signature multisided dice.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025
  • The film, directed by Jon Favreau and written by David Berenbaum, follows Ferrell as Buddy, a human raised as an elf in Santa’s workshop who returns to New York City to meet his biological father, played by the late James Caan.
    — Dave Quinn, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Definition of elf
Noun
  • For instance, people used to hang iron on their doors at night to keep faeries and demons out of their homes (talismans) and a knock on the door in the middle of the night was to be ignored, for surely some evil spirit was lurking outside.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
  • The Unseelie Court is the bastion of malevolent faeries who harm humans for their amusement or to exact revenge.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Definition of faerie
Noun
  • Kids consider costumes ranging from spooky goblins to little angels, and parents begin considering how to ration the candy collected after a long night of trick-or-treating.
    — Sen. Dan Hall, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025
  • This is your starting point, and where the brother from the story encountered the water goblin.
    — Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
Definition of goblin

Browse Nearby Words

fawns
fay
fays
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Cite this Entry

“Fay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fay. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

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