1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

documentary 1 of 2

noun

Definition of documentarynext
as in docudrama

Related Words

Relevance

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
Unmasking the Tylenol Killer—the newest documentary, coming exclusively to @TheRokuChannel on October 9th. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026 Featured in the documentary is the Sea Mantra, engineered over six years specifically for extreme wet weather environments. — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
Adjective
The documentary reality of Ryan’s life leans on observational verité techniques, with the camera often placed at an unobtrusive distance and following their freewheeling motions. — Marshall Shaffer, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026 Supposedly, the documentary crew that followed Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch has moved on to its next project, chronicling a Midwestern newspaper's struggle to survive. — Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 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 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
  • De Jong plans to redevelop the building with 25 housing units, in a mix of studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms, alongside resident amenities and a commercial space on the first floor, plans show, while restoring historic features.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Such thoughtful considerations are also evident with the 16-way adjustable seats in the front, complete with their own climate control and massage features.
    — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of feature
Adjective
  • On Wednesday, the NTSB and the FAA were at the accident site, gathering factual data.
    — Brittney Ermon, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Love Monday worked with Morton and Colthurst to secure access to several hours of tapes and both appear in the factual series.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of factual
Noun
  • De Heer has spent more than 40 years in Tasmania, Australia, directing, writing and producing films across a broad range of genres and subjects.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The same logic has already appeared in Ellen’s workshop for women in film, where authority gathers under the name of confession.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of film
Adjective
  • 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
  • Pee-Wee as Himself, the 2025 Emmy award winner for best documentary or nonfictional special, is also among the nominees.
    — Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 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

Browse Nearby Words

documentaries
documentary
documentation
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Documentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/documentary. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on documentary

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about documentary

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of tactile

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All