as in fictional
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Recent Examples of fictionalized
The 2005 Van Sant film was an experimental and fictionalized account of a Seattle musician’s life and career, reminiscent of those of Kurt Cobain.
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Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
The movie is a fictionalized account of real-life serial killer Charles Starkweather and his teenage accomplice, Caril Ann Fugate.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
Blue Moon stars Hawke as a fictionalized version of Lorenz Hart, the brilliant lyricist who worked alongside composer Richard Rodgers before Rodgers teamed up with Oscar Hammerstein II.
—Kyle McGovern, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Co-starring Andrew Scott as Rodgers and Margaret Qualley as a semi-fictionalized admirer of the closeted Hart, Blue Moon promises to be a wrenching look at a complex and tortured songwriter, with stunning performances to boot.
—Samantha Allen, Them., 2 Sep. 2025
Starring the rapper/actor as a fictionalized version of himself, The Vince Staples Show is part episodic comedy, part social satire, part surrealist exploration of urban anxiety — and 100 percent original.
—EW.com, 19 Aug. 2025
The show, which features Staples as a fictionalized version of himself, is set to pick up with Vince mourning the death of his Uncle James (Beau Billingslea), and embarking on a road trip with his mother, Anita (Vanessa Bell Calloway), and sister, Bri (Naté Jones), in the aftermath.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 19 Aug. 2025
Whether real or fictionalized, rich women behaving badly is a formula that never fails to deliver (see exhibits A, B, C: Real Housewives, Desperate Housewives, Mormon Wives).
—Andrea Lavinthal, People.com, 15 Aug. 2025
The sports dramedy is a fictionalized account of the real-life Marty Reisman, a five-time bronze medalist at the World Table Tennis Championships who died in 2012.
—Abigail Lee, Variety, 13 Aug. 2025
Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
The movie is a fictionalized account of real-life serial killer Charles Starkweather and his teenage accomplice, Caril Ann Fugate.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
Blue Moon stars Hawke as a fictionalized version of Lorenz Hart, the brilliant lyricist who worked alongside composer Richard Rodgers before Rodgers teamed up with Oscar Hammerstein II.
—Kyle McGovern, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Co-starring Andrew Scott as Rodgers and Margaret Qualley as a semi-fictionalized admirer of the closeted Hart, Blue Moon promises to be a wrenching look at a complex and tortured songwriter, with stunning performances to boot.
—Samantha Allen, Them., 2 Sep. 2025
Starring the rapper/actor as a fictionalized version of himself, The Vince Staples Show is part episodic comedy, part social satire, part surrealist exploration of urban anxiety — and 100 percent original.
—EW.com, 19 Aug. 2025
The show, which features Staples as a fictionalized version of himself, is set to pick up with Vince mourning the death of his Uncle James (Beau Billingslea), and embarking on a road trip with his mother, Anita (Vanessa Bell Calloway), and sister, Bri (Naté Jones), in the aftermath.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 19 Aug. 2025
Whether real or fictionalized, rich women behaving badly is a formula that never fails to deliver (see exhibits A, B, C: Real Housewives, Desperate Housewives, Mormon Wives).
—Andrea Lavinthal, People.com, 15 Aug. 2025
The sports dramedy is a fictionalized account of the real-life Marty Reisman, a five-time bronze medalist at the World Table Tennis Championships who died in 2012.
—Abigail Lee, Variety, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fictionalized
Adjective
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First, and perhaps most obvious, the fictional thriller draws inspiration from the Manson Family's home invasion and murder of Sharon Tate and her friends, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger and Wojciech Frykowski, as well as Steven Parent, who was visiting the home's caretaker.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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The Heart of the Ocean may be fictional, but its legend feels real—modeled loosely on the Hope Diamond.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Of course, close animal encounters aren't always fictitious.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
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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
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In non-hypothetical basketball news, the episode also dives into the WNBA’s moment of unprecedented growth.—
J.J. Bailey,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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Early last month, text messages from 2022 show Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general and a former member of the Virginia legislature, describing hypothetical violence against a political opponent.—
Jahd Khalil,
NPR,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Below are the three most salient lessons from the depths of the speculative fiction trenches.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
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Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s chief investment officer, Lisa Shalett, issued a note to clients yesterday arguing that now may be the time to sell speculative tech stocks.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fictionalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fictionalized. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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