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
These failures occurred when the AI models confabulated successful operations and built subsequent actions on false premises, highlighting the risks of depending on AI assistants that can misinterpret file structures or fabricate data to hide their errors.
—
ArsTechnica, 10 Sep. 2025
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
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
ArsTechnica, 10 Sep. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confabulate
Verb
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Meanwhile, despite Forrest Gump’s insight about the unknowns inside every box of chocolates, some 43% of Americans do consult the guide that comes with most boxes before selecting a treat.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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Every player had chosen a new note, no one had consulted, and yet the sound was ringingly coherent.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In an exchange with Jordan, Bondi agreed that while the Constitution confers a right to protest, protesters do not have the right to disrupt religious services.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Feb. 2026
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Adding in these 20-year findings strongly suggests that engagement in cognitive training does no harm and may confer substantial benefit.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Carvalho discussed the event’s main goal, to mark a year since the beginning of recovery from the Altadena and Pacific Palisades fires in January of 2025.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
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This story discusses events that might be disturbing to some readers.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Pohlad, who went to Georgia to meet with Byron Buxton and California to talk to Joe Ryan, has also recently been tapping into the knowledge of former players, including the rotating cast of television analysts.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
16 Feb. 2026
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As is her nature, Hudson talks openly and honestly about how being a mother has intertwined with her career.—
Amy Amatangelo,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confabulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confabulate. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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