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

For her documentary, Khosla aimed to follow a tree from high country to factory smokestack. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 Taking part will be 13 producers with fiction and documentary features in development will take part, as well as two observing producers. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Additionally, a companion documentary-style film spotlights Loopwheeler’s fabric. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026 However, cinematographers always need time and encouragement to get inventive with commonplace tools, especially in the documentary world where Hutchens does so much work. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for documentary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for documentary

Noun

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
Either way, the age of the football docudrama looks here to stay.

— Tim Spiers, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of docudrama

Adjective

The row reached the competition jury’s press conference the day after the opening ceremony, where a reporter raised the question of historical fact and creative freedom.

— Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Furthermore, the use of economic arguments to justify oppression has disturbing historical precedent.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of historical

Noun

Social media giant Meta was hit with a class action lawsuit in Australia on behalf of children and teenagers who allegedly suffered harm over the addictive design features and exposure to harmful content on its platforms Facebook and Instagram.

— Chad de Guzman, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
While the iPhone Duo’s software certainly felt much smoother and more fluid than Android alternatives, many of its core features have been available on Samsung or Google phones for years.

— Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of feature

Adjective

Despite those circumstances, Yusuf continued dispensing oxycodone to Llerena, according to the factual proffer.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
In factual, Frow has welcomed big names to the network like Monty Python star Michael Palin, who has journeyed to North Korea and the Philippines for documentary series.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of factual

Noun

Leica still makes film cameras, including the MP and M-A, which have no digital parts.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Mirren was first introduced to Highsmith through her husband Taylor Hackford, becoming a fan of her books as well as their many film adaptations.

— Alex Jhamb Burns, Vogue, 21 Oct. 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

Rather than doing a literal adaptation, the creators kept the book’s DNA and tweaked the ideas of evil, temptation and power with a contemporary twist.

— Annika Pham, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Edebiri’s look brings to mind musician Bjork’s quite literal interpretation of a swan dress at the 2001 Academy Awards; an outfit cemented in pop culture history as one of the red carpet’s most referenced, albeit campy, moments.

— Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of literal

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documentaries

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“Documentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/documentary. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of documentary

noun

adjective

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