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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in comprised
to be all the substance of
the book is made up of 20 chapters
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of made-up
Kevin Brazil, Harpers Magazine, 9 June 2026
The photos that flooded the internet amidst the Jenner-Levine hype featured Jenner in Paris (not her surgeon’s NYC office), professionally made-up, often wearing large sunglasses, and often filtered.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 17 Apr. 2026
During his interview, Newsom spoke about his ongoing and very public feud with Trump, who received the inaugural (and made-up) FIFA Peace Prize in December.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2026
Cook said his team detected a variety of age manipulation: synthetic fraud, in which real, stolen and made-up information is used to create a new identity; identity fraud; and document fraud.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
That story was 100 percent insane and made-up, and not a word of it is true.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026
Vietnam had an imaginary Gulf of Tonkin attack; Trump has made-up drug cartels.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 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
And while OpenAI’s defenders could chalk that up to an isolated or even made-up incident, within 24 hours of the GPT-5 launch Altman was doing damage control, seemingly caught of guard by the bad reception.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
White liquor, which is used to break down wood into paper pulp, is made up of sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide and disodium carbonate, authorities said.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 11 June 2026
The wind was chilly, but the sun made up for it.
—Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
And Teresa and Melissa have actually made up.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 11 June 2026
Kessler said much the same Thursday, telling ARTnews that the school is disproprotionately affected by attacks and restrictions on international students, which made up 40 percent of the student body in 2023, according to a New York Times analysis.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 4 June 2026
The jury, made up of 11 women and 7 men, was seated as Anthony's parents and Metcalf's parents sat on opposite sides of the courtroom.
—Cbs Texas Staff, CBS News, 4 June 2026
High-ticket, $100 million-plus deals made up 26% of retail investment from the first quarter of 2025 through the first quarter of 2026, compared with just 13% in 2023.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 4 June 2026
La Voz Favorita, out Thursday, is made up of a staggering 24 tracks, where Wheeler revisits his roots while pushing urbano forward.
—Lucas Villa, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026
Adjective
Parts would be missing, or made-up.
—Kevin Brazil, Harpers Magazine, 9 June 2026
The photos that flooded the internet amidst the Jenner-Levine hype featured Jenner in Paris (not her surgeon’s NYC office), professionally made-up, often wearing large sunglasses, and often filtered.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 17 Apr. 2026
During his interview, Newsom spoke about his ongoing and very public feud with Trump, who received the inaugural (and made-up) FIFA Peace Prize in December.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2026
Cook said his team detected a variety of age manipulation: synthetic fraud, in which real, stolen and made-up information is used to create a new identity; identity fraud; and document fraud.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
That story was 100 percent insane and made-up, and not a word of it is true.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026
Vietnam had an imaginary Gulf of Tonkin attack; Trump has made-up drug cartels.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 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
And while OpenAI’s defenders could chalk that up to an isolated or even made-up incident, within 24 hours of the GPT-5 launch Altman was doing damage control, seemingly caught of guard by the bad reception.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
While the room was compact in size, the plush, cloud-like double beds and iconic views more than made up for any lost space.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
White liquor, which is used to break down wood into paper pulp, is made up of sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide and disodium carbonate, authorities said.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 11 June 2026
The wind was chilly, but the sun made up for it.
—Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
And Teresa and Melissa have actually made up.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 11 June 2026
Kessler said much the same Thursday, telling ARTnews that the school is disproprotionately affected by attacks and restrictions on international students, which made up 40 percent of the student body in 2023, according to a New York Times analysis.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 4 June 2026
The jury, made up of 11 women and 7 men, was seated as Anthony's parents and Metcalf's parents sat on opposite sides of the courtroom.
—Cbs Texas Staff, CBS News, 4 June 2026
High-ticket, $100 million-plus deals made up 26% of retail investment from the first quarter of 2025 through the first quarter of 2026, compared with just 13% in 2023.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 4 June 2026
La Voz Favorita, out Thursday, is made up of a staggering 24 tracks, where Wheeler revisits his roots while pushing urbano forward.
—Lucas Villa, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for made-up
Adjective
-
The protagonist, William Jones, born in a fictitious Caribbean nation, wades through the weight of colonial education that does not prepare him adequately for his migration to the United States.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Dec. 2025
-
The TikTok and YouTube star, whose real name is Morgan Burtwistle, began streaming in 2020 playing video games but went viral after a fictitious outburst about his struggle to get chips on a night out.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Fallon’s entire audience at 30 Rockefeller Plaza’s Studio 6B will be comprised of die-hard Knicks fans who were unable to attend the NBA Finals in person.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
14 June 2026
-
The defending national champion Passion, comprised of 2025 AVP MVP Trevor Crabb and 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Phil Dalhausser, took on Miami’s six-time AVP Best Defender Taylor Crabb and 2024 Paris Olympian Andy Benesh.—
Ava DiCecca,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
In this case, the team devised a way to directly merge the mechanophores as cross-links into common polymers.—
Shirl Leigh
June 10,
New Atlas,
10 June 2026
-
The team’s Mediterranean Programme was devised in response to the exponential risk of extinction to the sea’s nearly 80 species of shark and ray.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Power comes from a new hybrid system expected to deliver 37 mpg in combined city/highway driving — a 54% increase from the most efficient version of the 2023 Cherokee, the last model Stellantis built before idling production.—
Mark Phelan,
Freep.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
The company’s approach has built a loyal customer base that spans generations.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
She was caught on video making a gun symbol with her fingers, putting it to her neck, and pulling the imaginary trigger.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
7 Dec. 2025
-
The book explains the problem, the kids’ science solution (be sure it’s not stuck on boats or anything that goes in the water), and an imaginary solution.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Dubbed Ocean Terrace, the forthcoming waterfront project by Revuelta Architecture International is composed of several existing structures that make up one complex in the North Beach area.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
11 Dec. 2025
-
How can Brock stay composed against a juggernaut like Carthage?—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In exchange for not being charged with a DUI, the family’s lawyer concocted a deal in which Skakel was sent to the controversial Élan School in Maine in an effort to correct his unruly behavior.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
7 Dec. 2025
-
Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report concocted this trade idea that sees the Lakers land and shore up both their frontcourt and backcourt, the Dallas Mavericks duo of former All-Star Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford.—
Ricardo Sandoval,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Dementia awareness, Hmong New Year among the themes Walk through the main entrance, and you'll be greeted by a friendly woolly mammoth constructed from clear packing tape; a white, fluffy tree; and bright red mushrooms.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
11 Dec. 2025
-
The ramekin is constructed with premium stoneware and finished with a glossy glaze that guarantees even heat distribution and retention while resisting scratching, fading, and chipping.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Made-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/made-up. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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