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
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
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Recent Examples of fay
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
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
Adjective
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The high-quality dress can be worn all summer long, in playful hues like white and green.
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Beaded sandals, in particular, strike a balance between statement-making and approachable, offering the same playful energy as the season’s beaded jewelry and bags without requiring a complete wardrobe overhaul.
Noun
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Indulge in a little whimsy with this manicure that’s fit for a garden fairy.
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Meander through a lush, fairy-worthy tapestry of ivy and narrow pathways forged throughout the B&B's history.
Adjective
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Some may argue that the more the merrier applies as much to advocacy for social justice as to anything else.
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When former President Barack Obama addressed the massive, merry crowd at the Obama Presidential Center dedication ceremony on June 18, a few lines landed like a balm.
Noun
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Ferrell starred as Buddy in the 2003 Christmas classic, which focused on a human adopted by elves and raised as an elf in the North Pole until one day, as an adult, discovering his true identity.
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At the end of 2005-2006, a whole host of elves got arrested and were sent to prison.
Noun
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Maeve learns that the legends she was raised on — stories of faeries, kelpies and seelies — are actually true.
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The plays are set in locations as varied as courts, forests, battlefields, and even the realm of faerie.
Noun
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Two years ago, the Man City phenom appeared in a 90-second spot for the game that saw him get recruited to storm a castle teeming with goblins, dragons and impish skeletons.
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Follow the babe with the power into Jim Henson’s gloriously weird fantasy wonderland, where goblins sing, doors argue, and David Bowie’s Goblin King serves enough glam-rock charisma to power an entire kingdom.
Noun
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For pots, look for dwarf zinnia varieties that won’t require staking.
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As virality goes, this is not a big number, but the passion that the account has aroused dwarfs its reach.
Cite this Entry
“Fay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fay. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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