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
Straight out of an interstellar sci-fi reverie, the six-suite Echo camp fuses fictional space commander-style architecture with astro-chic interiors for up to 12 guests.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026
At points the historical record is more fantastical than Vidal’s fictional retelling.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
His arrival was timed with Ball’s I Love Lucy character’s birth of her fictional son, Little Ricky.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 21 May 2026
The fictional host was fashioned largely after Fox News blowhard Bill O’Reilly.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fictional
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026
At points the historical record is more fantastical than Vidal’s fictional retelling.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
His arrival was timed with Ball’s I Love Lucy character’s birth of her fictional son, Little Ricky.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 21 May 2026
The fictional host was fashioned largely after Fox News blowhard Bill O’Reilly.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fictional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fictional
Adjective
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He is charged with one count of unlawful voting by aliens and one count of the procurement, casting, or tabulation of ballots that are known to be materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent under state law.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
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The complaint also alleged payroll fraud, claiming that fictitious employees were being issued paper checks that were delivered to museum insiders.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
19 May 2026
Adjective
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Gaiman works like The Sandman and American Gods have served as inviting gateways to imaginary worlds for multiple generations of readers and viewers.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
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By that time Dame Frances had established the idea of theaters of memory—imaginary architectural structures, replete with columns and alcoves and windows, where items can be placed for later recollection.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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Bled, Slovenia Picturesque Bled looks like a mythical landscape dreamed up by the Brothers Grimm.—
Anne Olivia Bauso,
Travel + Leisure,
21 May 2026
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Curated by Bruno Gaudichon, former longtime director of La Piscine museum in the north of France, the show transforms the gallery into a poetic forest inhabited by sculptural furniture, animals and mythic references spanning Europe and Asia.—
Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle,
Forbes.com,
19 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 23 May. 2026.
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