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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Please consult your local burn permitting authorities as to whether burning is allowed.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
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Former Executive Features Editor at Country & Town House, Rosalyn has written for the Financial Times, the Telegraph, Tatler, The Independent, Suitcase, Glamour, Harpers Bazaar and BA Highlife, and consulted on content for several luxury brands and hotels.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Being entrusted with such secret knowledge conferred a special power on Skinny Pedro.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
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Obviously, this appointment and other authority could have been conferred on the Court of Appeals rather than the chief judge.—
James M. McGuire,
New York Daily News,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In response to questions from The Sacramento Bee, representatives from the governor’s office did not address any of the proposals lawmakers have been discussing.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
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Before the closed-door session on Wednesday, board members publicly discussed approving, funding, and conducting an investigation into Bulson and any other board member who was potentially involved in the April 2024 incident.—
Ashley Paul,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Brandon asked her out the next day, and the pair spent hours talking on a Ferris wheel during their first date.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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People with respiratory viruses who have high-risk conditions or who live in households with high-risk individuals should talk to their healthcare professional about taking antiviral medications to treat the virus or prevent transmission.—
Jack Perry,
The Providence Journal,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confabulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confabulate. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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