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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 fictional
Deliver Me From Nowhere are real, Bruce’s romantic interest, Faye Romano (Odessa Young), is a fictional character, based on several of the rock star’s girlfriends at the time.
—
Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
King took inspiration from the town for the setting of his 2009 novel Under the Dome, even writing about a fictional version of the area’s beloved general-store-slash-diner and its owner.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 23 Oct. 2025
Even as Altman pitches a science-fictional future, his company is chained to products and business models from the recent technological past.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
Cotillard plays Celine Dumont, the new board president of the fictional news network who has plans to shake things up.
—Senior Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fictional
Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
King took inspiration from the town for the setting of his 2009 novel Under the Dome, even writing about a fictional version of the area’s beloved general-store-slash-diner and its owner.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 23 Oct. 2025
Even as Altman pitches a science-fictional future, his company is chained to products and business models from the recent technological past.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
Cotillard plays Celine Dumont, the new board president of the fictional news network who has plans to shake things up.
—Senior Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fictional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fictional
Adjective
-
Of course, close animal encounters aren't always fictitious.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The Half Moon Bay weigh-off began in 1974, when the California town barely edged out Circleville, Ohio, in an amiable contest for the fictitious title of pumpkin capital of the world.—
Jennifer Borresen,
USA Today,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Of course, specific local conditions vary on either side of that imaginary line.—
Jim Higgins,
jsonline.com,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Now draw an imaginary line diagonally through the Dipper's bowl from Dubhe (the upper right star in the bowl) down through Phecda (the lower left star in the bowl) and extend that line downward about twice the distance between those two stars and that will bring you to the vicinity of Cor Caroli.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, Linus waits in a pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin, a mythical Santa Claus-like figure who supposedly brings gifts every Halloween.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Linus decides to skip the celebrations to wait in a pumpkin patch for the mythical Great Pumpkin.—
Dina Kaur,
AZCentral.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fictional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fictional. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share