fictionalized

adjective

fic·​tion·​al·​ized ˈfik-sh(ə-)nə-ˌlīzd How to pronounce fictionalized (audio)
Synonyms of fictionalizednext
: made into fiction : altered by the addition of fictional elements
a fictionalized account of the first moon landing
fictionalized history

Examples of fictionalized in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The 1940 novel Darkness at Noon is a fictionalized but highly realistic account of a Soviet official who is arrested under Stalin, is charged with wild anti-Soviet conspiracies, and ultimately chooses to give a public confession. Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026 Journey to the West presents a fictionalized version of Xuanzang’s pilgrimage, reimagining him as the monk Tang Sanzang, who is accompanied by three supernatural disciples, including Sun Wukong. Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026 The crime thriller has Gray having helmed a semi-fictionalized return to his family life in mid-1980s Queens and is also a companion piece to his 2022 film Armageddon Time. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2026 The film stars renegade country singer Elizabeth Cook as a fictionalized version of herself, portraying an artist navigating midlife while contending with an industry that has never fully embraced her. Kennedy French, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026 After Caveman, the couple also appeared in Give My Regards to Broad Street, a musical drama depicting a fictionalized day in the life of McCartney. Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026 And don’t forget the 2024 film Saturday Night, a fictionalized retelling of how Michaels brought the show into being. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 17 Apr. 2026 This book gives a fictionalized account of how a plucky young boy brought that iconic tradition into existence during the 1930s. Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026 The book, illustrated by AJ Dungo, is a fictionalized account of real-life events. Tahneer Oksman, NPR, 12 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fictionalized was in 1905

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Cite this Entry

“Fictionalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fictionalized. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

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