as in to consult
to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem
an Alzheimer's support group in which caregivers can confabulate as well as commiserate
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Recent Examples of confabulate
Confabulation seems to be more frequent in the face of repeatedly unpacking a memory; in other words, someone like EpicJourneyMan, who regularly ordered children’s videos and watched them to find damaged tape, is more likely to confabulate a specific memory from that material.
—
Caitlin Aamodt, Discover Magazine, 16 Feb. 2017
See above for my attempt to confabulate a story linking the three random concepts of a cat, a fire engine and a chair.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 25 Oct. 2010
Consider Samuel and Miranda in their hotel’s breakfast area:
The personnel dressed in white jackets the next morning were busy confabulating and joking with one another while cheesy loud music was playing in the background.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2019
Then Michael confabulated much longer and more fruitfully.
—Josh Rottenberg, latimes.com, 9 Oct. 2017
Caitlin Aamodt, Discover Magazine, 16 Feb. 2017
See above for my attempt to confabulate a story linking the three random concepts of a cat, a fire engine and a chair.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 25 Oct. 2010
Consider Samuel and Miranda in their hotel’s breakfast area:
The personnel dressed in white jackets the next morning were busy confabulating and joking with one another while cheesy loud music was playing in the background.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2019
Then Michael confabulated much longer and more fruitfully.
—Josh Rottenberg, latimes.com, 9 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confabulate
Verb
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Michael consulted the on-line National Archives (archives.gov) in confirming historical events for this post.—
Michael Peregrine,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Clearly, no Indigenous folks were consulted in the ideation of this cute little photo-op moment.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
30 June 2025
Verb
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The musician, whose real name is David Howell Evans, spoke to reporters after being officially conferred with thousands of other new Irish citizens during a ceremony in Killarney in County Kerry.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
24 June 2025
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After the teams cleared the field, the umpires conferred, the teams returned, and the Saints scored three runs.—
Michael Osipoff,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2025
Verb
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In a survey of 404 regular users of AI companionship apps, researchers at MIT Media Lab found that 12 percent of respondents initially sought out these systems to cope with loneliness, and 14 percent used them to discuss personal or mental-health issues.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation.—
Rebecca Boone,
Chicago Tribune,
1 July 2025
Verb
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Here to talk more about this is Tax Notes investigations editor Lauren Loricchio.—
Tax Notes Staff,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Through it all, Thune kept talking to Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a moderate Mainer who blanched at the bill’s Medicaid cuts.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confabulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confabulate. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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