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

This year, the section will feature 32 projects, including 17 short films, seven feature films, five documentary short films and three student short films. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026 For a documentary project on the shark fishing industry, Australian filmmaker Madison Stewart traveled to Indonesia. — Juliet Kinsman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 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

As the name reflected, the museum contained duelling missions from the start, showcasing American technological advances and telling a more general historical story.

— Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 24 Sep. 2026
Artists from various musical genres are coming together to take part in a new music project inspired by the series The Chosen, a historical drama based on the life and ministry of Jesus.

— Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 24 Sep. 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

There are disputes over everything from factual accuracy to legal pitfalls to punctuation.

— Mike Hogan, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026
For example, frameworks like the SBI Model (Situation-Behavior-Impact) from the Center for Creative Leadership promote a clear, three-step methodology that reduces defensiveness by keeping feedback factual.

— Maren Perry, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of factual

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

As Batiba, Slate’s borderline baby voice walks a nimble line between seductive and menacing, but Manny Jacinto is the real scene-stealer as a literal baby demon.

— Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
This is our introduction to He and She, two clownish, pugilistic lovers who are locked in a war of words, even as a literal war rages outside.

— Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of literal

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documentaries

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documentation

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“Documentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/documentary. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of documentary

noun

adjective

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