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made-up 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmād-ˈəp How to pronounce made-up (audio)
Definition of made-upnext
as in fictitious
not real and existing only in the imagination the bogeyman was one of those made-up monsters whose sole purpose was to threaten children

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

made up

2 of 2

verb

past tense of make up
1
as in comprised
to be all the substance of the book is made up of 20 chapters

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2
as in devised
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination she keeps making up excuses as to why she hasn't yet finished the project

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3
as in built
to form by putting together parts or materials we'll have to make up the bookcase, which came in a box marked "some assembly required"

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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 made-up
Adjective
That story was 100 percent insane and made-up, and not a word of it is true. — Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026 And there's not one right way to do it, considering the holiday is made-up and the real thing is just around the corner. — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 19 Nov. 2025
Verb
Backcountry Tiny Homes The interior measures 400 sq ft (37 sq m), which is around the same as a studio apartment, and has an attractive finish made up of natural tongue-and-groove knotty pine on the walls and ceiling, plus hardwood floors. — New Atlas, 17 Sep. 2026 As per Kpler data, Russian oil made up for more than 50% of India's crude purchases in June and July and over 40% in August. — Anniek Bao,priyanka Salve, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for made-up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for made-up
  1. fictitious
  2. comprised
  3. devised
  4. built
  5. imaginary
  6. composed
  7. concocted
  8. constructed
Adjective
  • As the puzzle pieces shift slowly into place, these revelations are jaw-dropping (once again, in their highly fictitious context), leading to a journalistic urgency.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Despite its admittedly fictitious origins, Juliet’s House is one of the most popular sites in Verona.
    — Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of fictitious
Verb
  • Storm damage revealed an unusual arrangement of stones that comprised part of a previously unknown settlement near the Roman fort of Kapersburg in Hesse.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Sullivan, a midfielder for the Philadelphia Union, joins many of the same players who comprised the roster for the USMNT's World Cup run this summer including Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Gio Reyna, Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi and others.
    — Mason Leib, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of comprised
Verb
  • Costume designer Colleen Atwood devised the ensemble, while Ed Cubberly created the famous fiberglass muzzle, deliberately leaving it uncoated to evoke the look of dried, taut skin.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • However, a potential workaround for this was famously devised in 1994 by physicist Miguel Alcubierre, who argued that rather than using a propulsion system to accelerate the spacecraft itself, spacetime could be distorted around it.
    — Micah Hanks, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of devised
Verb
  • From daily city commutes to weekend riding, Ausom products are built to provide reliable, efficient alternative transportation.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Which plants remain open, which plants get built and whether new plants include pollution control equipment at the outset will affect Americans’ electricity bills.
    — Akshaya Jha, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of built
Adjective
  • Forte_Forte For spring 2027, Giada Forte embarked on an imaginary journey inspired by the Spice Route, combining nods to destinations from Venice to Egypt to Morocco.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Stewart smiled while on her way to the bench as the ESPN broadcast highlighted Jonquel Jones stirring an imaginary pot on the sidelines.
    — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of imaginary
Verb
  • The girl group — composed of Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza and Yoonchae Jeung —will do the same.
    — Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Each bite is deliberately composed with the rhythm and crescendo of a piece of music, a reflection of Tim Cushman’s background as a musician, resulting in sushi that feels deeply considered but also playful.
    — Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of composed
Verb
  • Martha’s concocted plenty over the years, including her cider-bourbon cocktail made with apple cider, bourbon, lemon juice, ginger, and apple garnishes.
    — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The young lady had specially flown in from New York and Alan had concocted a piece of simple blackmail.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of concocted
Verb
  • Within two years, an ingenious tunnel complex was constructed, with arched ceilings and thick walls, and zigzag subterranean pathways to better absorb bomb blasts.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026
  • And unlike other utensils with plastic or silicone handles, each tool is constructed entirely from stainless steel with an ergonomic grip.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of constructed

Browse Nearby Words

made tracks
made-up
made up
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Cite this Entry

“Made-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/made-up. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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