DOCUMENTARY Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

documentary 1 of 2

noun

Definition of documentary

as in docudrama

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documentary

2 of 2

adjective

ˌdä-kyə-ˈmen-tə-rē

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

Multi-Year Vision for Independent Documentary Looking ahead, Harris sees The Human Element as a multiyear effort that will redefine what independent documentary filmmaking on YouTube can achieve. — Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026 But the real meat of the documentary lies in what the crew uncovers about Hughes’ appeal. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2026

Adjective

Helena Czajka went back-to-back in the best music for a documentary category, winning for Sentient, while Finn Clarke scooped emerging screen composer of the year. — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2026 Filmmaker and activist Omer Shamir paints a moving documentary portrait of the family in their exile home across a year. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for documentary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for documentary

Noun

When Eric Bentley assembled this 1972 docudrama from House Un-American Activities Committee transcripts, the playwright savvily stripped his work of dramatic license and laid bare the Red Scare’s horrors.

— Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 5 Nov. 2026
The Landman actor is hosting a three-part docudrama about the Mayflower for the streamer.

— Peter White, Deadline, 27 Oct. 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

Mobile service vehicles for the Miami-Dade Tax Collector’s Office feature jumbo images of Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez, a Republican who was also elected in 2024.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026
That leaves a temporary distinction between ChatGPT’s standard voice conversations and its interactive visual features.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of feature

Adjective

The findings could give lawmakers a factual basis to demand answers and intensify scrutiny of whether the administration misled the court.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Lower costs and safety measures Tencent has also worked to reduce factual errors when Hy4 retrieves information.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of factual

Noun

Leibovit said Pal used the replacement concept, which is a stop-motion technique seen today in the works of Tim Burton, Guillermo del Toro and the films of LAIKA Studios.

— Zach Dennis, Charlotte Observer, 11 Nov. 2026
There are also live actors and plenty of tunes from the film that help bring the story to life.

— Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 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

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documentaries

documentary

documentation

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“Documentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/documentary. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of documentary

noun

adjective

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