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

Meanwhile, Cooper is in Palm Springs, ducking the Better Business Bureau and reluctantly participating in his daughter’s documentary about his upbringing. — Ryan Chapman, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026 Leading the jury selecting the winner of the Grierson Award for the documentary competition is British-Indian writer Sandhya Suri, whose narrative fiction debut Santosh was shortlisted for the Oscars and won the BIFA for best screenplay. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026

Adjective

The fest’s feature film competition jury will be presided over by James Bond director Cary Joji Fukunaga, while filmmaker Sine Plambech will head up the documentary competition jury. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026 Supporters of the three men said the allegations were baseless and contradicted by documentary evidence. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 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

But the work’s critics also appeal to its past; actual encounter is informed by historical circumstances, which means looking back.

— Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
The bill would have directed state agencies to recognize historical inequities affecting tribes, and to consult with them on water projects, plans and policies.

— Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of historical

Noun

Asian cinema accounts for 96 films, women directed 41, and 20 are official entries for the international feature category at the 99th Academy Awards.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
After living in the City of Lights for more than a decade, the designer said he was drawn to its features, which informed his palette that runs from sky blues to Seine greens, via tones inspired by its typical stone buildings.

— Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of feature

Adjective

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
This is what gives the film its experiential sincerity — the lived perspective of its Ukrainian crew leaving a nonfictional trace across every level of the fiction, something Stever handles with unusual reverence.

— Sonya Vseliubska, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 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

And in some sense, that’s a literal picture of a four-dimensional space.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 1 Oct. 2026
WallPops Scalamandré Leaping Cheetah Peel and Stick Wallpaper Animal print is reigning in fashion again, and this wallpaper has taken a literal approach when translating the trend to interiors.

— Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of literal

Browse Nearby Words

documentaries

documentary

documentation

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

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Synonyms of documentary

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

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