1
as in synthetic
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials
presumably the statue is of factitious marble, because for that price you're not going to get the real stuff
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in false
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
the factitious friendliness shown by the beauty-pageant contestants to one another
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Recent Examples of factitious
Another was shorting Valeant, the high-flyer with factitious revenue growth.
—
William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
With this announcement, factitious (in my opinion) concerns about Amazon being behind in GenAI will be reduced big time.
—Sandy Carter, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
This is a useful inquiry, because we in the modern world are inundated by manipulated or factitious statistics, fabricated by marketers and politicians, promoted on social media and swallowed whole by news organizations.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2023
Their connection to these was as factitious as their previous link to toothpaste.
—David Mamet, National Review, 31 Mar. 2022
Marc Feldman, the American psychiatrist who popularized the term Munchausen by internet, has noticed that most of the cases of factitious disorder that come to his attention involve women.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2021
Almanacs aren’t always — and haven’t always been — so fastidiously factitious.
—Mark Athitakis, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2020
William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
With this announcement, factitious (in my opinion) concerns about Amazon being behind in GenAI will be reduced big time.
—Sandy Carter, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
This is a useful inquiry, because we in the modern world are inundated by manipulated or factitious statistics, fabricated by marketers and politicians, promoted on social media and swallowed whole by news organizations.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2023
Their connection to these was as factitious as their previous link to toothpaste.
—David Mamet, National Review, 31 Mar. 2022
Marc Feldman, the American psychiatrist who popularized the term Munchausen by internet, has noticed that most of the cases of factitious disorder that come to his attention involve women.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2021
Almanacs aren’t always — and haven’t always been — so fastidiously factitious.
—Mark Athitakis, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for factitious
Adjective
-
The synthetic present isn’t going away.—
Dean DeBiase,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Inspired by the shape of a horse’s hoof, Le Perfecteur brush is crafted from synthetic fibre bristles that don’t absorb pigments, but rather deposit them evenly across the skin for ample coverage with little product.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Over the past two years, attorneys for Meija have argued in post-conviction hearings that prosecutors introduced false and misleading testimony at trial and newly available scientific methods proved that Casiaono, who was submerged in a bathtub full of scalding water, died by accident.—
Tony Plohetski,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Banfield’s defense attorney has accused prosecutors of offering Peres Magalhães a way out of prison in exchange for a false story to pin the murders on Banfield.—
Lauren del Valle,
CNN Money,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The soft flannel top and plush faux shearling fleece underside provide excellent heat retention for serious coziness.—
Jacquelyn McGilvray,
PEOPLE,
22 Jan. 2026
-
While the idea of bringing a large plant into your home may seem intimidating to some, keep in mind that both real and faux plants are fair game in this instance.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
31 Dec. 2025
-
The handsome pair of actors play sniper specialists from enemy countries who must each take a long shift on opposite sides of a massive trench where some unnatural monsters apparently lurk below.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
27 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Despite their remarkable flexibility, today’s soft artificial muscles struggle to deliver meaningful force.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Where Ford introduced the assembly line, Czinger deploys proprietary artificial-intelligence applications alongside next-generation fabrication—from custom 3-D printers to the chemical makeup of key materials—all developed in-house.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The prelaunch test involves conducting a mock launch countdown and fueling the SLS with 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants that are later drained.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Lipshutz has covered iconic artists such as Taylor Swift, U2 and Lorde as a music journalist for over a decade, while guiding Billboard‘s editorial strategy across pop and mock music.—
THR Staff,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But the fake ads include the swindler’s contact information instead of the real landlord’s.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The cards were left in several cars abandoned after their occupants were arrested by ICE agents earlier this week in Eagle County, during what Sánchez described as fake traffic stops.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
When personal relationships become strained or neglected, that pressure spreads.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Ware returned to Miami on Thursday for further treatment on his strained hamstring and will miss the rest of the Heat’s West Coast trip that has two games remaining on Saturday against the Jazz and Sunday against the Suns.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Factitious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/factitious. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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