documentary 1 of 2

noun

Definition of documentarynext
as in docudrama

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documentary

2 of 2

adjective

ˌdä-kyə-ˈmen-tə-rē How to pronounce documentary (audio)
as in historical
restricted to or based on fact a documentary film about the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of documentary
Noun
Howard’s documentary features interviews with fellow photographers, models, magazine editors, writers, former assistants and art dealers, including Larry Gagosian, who reminisces about meeting Avedon for the first time in New York in the mid-1970s. — Siran Babayan, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026 Karen Zacarías’ comedy about a book club that becomes the subject of a documentary, upending the sanctity and organization of the group, was first staged in 2008. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026
Adjective
The evening was emceed by aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe and featured a cocktail reception, a panel discussion and a screening of five documentary profiles produced by Vox Creative. — Claire White, Vox, 29 Oct. 2026 It was noted by the moderator — yours truly — that the documentary branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which solely determines the best documentary feature Oscar nominees, has, in recent years, become controversial. — Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for documentary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for documentary
  1. docudrama
  2. historical
  3. feature
  4. factual
  5. film
  6. nonfictional
  7. featurette
  8. literal
Noun
  • The Landman actor is hosting a three-part docudrama about the Mayflower for the streamer.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The audience gave a festival-best 22-minute standing ovation to the ticking-clock docudrama about efforts to save a 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed by the IDF.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of docudrama
Adjective
  • OpenAI compared the 948 vulnerabilities with historical Linux kernel bug bounty payouts from Pwn2Own and TyphoonPWN.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
  • However, historical performance serves only as a benchmark, and whether equities repeat this pattern remains to be seen.
    — , CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of historical
Noun
  • Another key feature are the balconies overlooking the gently flowing Shirakawa River.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The car has a gorgeous flowing design, but as with other supercars in the seven-figure segment, a head-turning exterior is far from its most breathtaking feature.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of feature
Adjective
  • Dunlay said the city prepared the report to provide the City Council with factual information about investments in the 2nd District over a 10-year period.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Within Italy’s unscripted sphere, the factual genre has seen the most significant growth, up 36% in terms of number of hours, with the number of domestic factual titles adapted from international formats doubling.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of factual
Noun
  • In the age of artificial intelligence, the film has become a symbol of human craft and ingenuity.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The film will be produced by Talia Kleinhendler and Osnat Handelsman Keren of Pie Films (The Lost Daughter, The Kindergarten Teacher), alongside Francesca Cualbu (Maria) of Italian production company The Apartment.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of film
Adjective
  • In Aaron Sorkin’s new thriller, the fictional Haugen — who, like her nonfictional counterpart, leaks thousands of documents to Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz — habitually dons the accessories.
    — Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 9 Oct. 2026
  • In a world where true-crime shows of both the fictional and nonfictional variety run rampant on our screens, that’s probably not a bad corporate strategy.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of nonfictional
Noun
  • The showings will also be accompanied by a new featurette with director James McTeigue, who reflects on the enduring mythology of V and why the film’s ideas of freedom and resistance still resonate today.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Cruise, never shy about the affiliation, climbed the Paramount water tower for the studio’s CinemaCon 2025 presentation featurette.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of featurette
Adjective
  • The color of the ocean is a literal reflection of what’s in it — from microscopic plant-like organisms called phytoplankton to marine debris.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
  • This giant stardust cloud acted like a literal screen, blocking a substantial portion of the star's light from our viewpoint.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of literal

Browse Nearby Words

documentaries
documentary
documentation
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Cite this Entry

“Documentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/documentary. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about documentary

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