as in fictitious
not real and existing only in the imagination
the events in the horror movie seemed so real to some fans that they could not believe that the whole thing was fictional
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Recent Examples of fictional
In her fictional construct, Sylvie names the woman Anna (Virginie Efira), after her late mother.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
The superb ensemble includes Lyudmilla Ignatenko (Jessie Buckley) as the wife of a firefighter mortally wounded in the initial hours of the disaster and the fictional Ulana Khomyuk (Emily Watson) as a scientist who warns political leaders about the consequences of inaction.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 14 May 2026
Like her fictional subject, Nguyen is a fan of metal music and enjoys delving into intense subcultures.
—Paul Hodgins, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
However fictional the storylines are, they’re rooted in some of the realities that millions of people are facing today.
—Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fictional
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
The superb ensemble includes Lyudmilla Ignatenko (Jessie Buckley) as the wife of a firefighter mortally wounded in the initial hours of the disaster and the fictional Ulana Khomyuk (Emily Watson) as a scientist who warns political leaders about the consequences of inaction.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 14 May 2026
Like her fictional subject, Nguyen is a fan of metal music and enjoys delving into intense subcultures.
—Paul Hodgins, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
However fictional the storylines are, they’re rooted in some of the realities that millions of people are facing today.
—Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fictional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fictional
Adjective
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Paul Dano is spin doctor and adviser Vadim Baranov, a fictitious character loosely inspired by real-life Russian politician Vladislav Surkov.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
-
That was a role model of a fictitious kind.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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To find Hydra, first locate the bright stars Chertan and Regulus in the constellation Leo and draw an imaginary line from the former to the latter, extending 20 degrees into open space.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
9 May 2026
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Artists in the 18th century would often include a person of color, who would sometimes be imaginary, in their portraits of wealthy white sitters to embellish the painting and highlight the high status of the main subject, according to the researchers.—
Amarachi Orie,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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Opened in 2020, the museum features interactive exhibits dedicated to the mythical sea creature.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
14 May 2026
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Loosely based on the legends of the Nang Mai, Thailand’s mythical forest nymphs, the film is scripted by Patrick Graham, the writer behind Netflix’s Indian horror series Ghoul and Betaal, based on a concept by Songsak Mongkolthong (Graveyard Horror), who is also attached to direct.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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If Hellebuyck is Ullmark, then an imagined equivalent could send Hellebuyck to San Jose for Alex Nedeljkovic, Barclay Goodrow, and Edmonton’s 2026 first-round pick.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
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The imagined version — the perfect one.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fictional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fictional. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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