as in imaginary
not real and existing only in the imagination
zoomed around the house in a make-believe car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in fiction
Related Words
make believe
3 of 3phrase
as in pretend
to present a false appearance of
He made believe he was sick to get out of going to school.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of make-believe
Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2023
The internet provided a fertile new stage for my proclivity for make-believe.
—Kira Homsher, Longreads, 14 Mar. 2023
Juliana Kim, NPR, 5 Oct. 2025
That’s because theme parks aim to immerse guests in stories and make-believe worlds whereas the objective of an Expo pavilion is to make a splash.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make-believe
Adjective
Yet in the past, intimate scenes in theater, film and television were rarely treated with the same mindfulness as a make-believe duel.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2023
The internet provided a fertile new stage for my proclivity for make-believe.
—Kira Homsher, Longreads, 14 Mar. 2023
Noun
And in Ukraine, youngsters tussle in make-believe war, imitating soldiers as the real conflict rages on.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 5 Oct. 2025
That’s because theme parks aim to immerse guests in stories and make-believe worlds whereas the objective of an Expo pavilion is to make a splash.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make-believe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make-believe
Adjective
-
As players shoot around, Jake cradles a ball before blowing past an imaginary defender to hammer home a dunk.—
Mirin Fader,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
At the opening, Natalie, bored and filled with loathing for her parents, flees her family home by retreating into imaginary worlds of vivid, eroticized violence.—
Erin Somers,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Watson's book was more akin to pulp fiction than definitive history.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Worries about fictions created by artificial intelligence used to prepare legal documents have plagued the legal community for the past few years, as the public’s infatuation with the generative technology has grown.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Anmore and Fort Langley — to make up the fictional community.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
-
SpringHill’s involvement signals a likely retention of the original’s format, with real sports stars playing themselves as clients of the fictional sports agency.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Testing includes closed-course validation and large-scale simulation alongside public road testing.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Newcastle had a penalty chance of their own waved away just before the break, with referee Michael Salisbury booking Joelinton for simulation.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In a white Ford Expedition with exempt plates and red emergency lights, Farzam stopped at a checkpoint manned by the National Guard on January 17 and presented a document showing the vehicle was registered to the fictitious Santa Muerte Fire Department, prosecutors said.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The film is set in a version of America that, while fictitious, still feels distinctly American.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Sushi knives and utensils were found with organic debris, and imitation crab meat was found unrefrigerated.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Even his imitation of 20th-century leadership lacks a certain verve.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The repetition of that mythic version has buttressed the belief that the fight for American independence was an event somehow separate from world history.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
That was a really great mythic take.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Orange Is the New Black alum stressed the importance of trans and non-binary representation in the mainstream theater world.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
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Without stretching their budget, travelers can enjoy 22 miles of pristine coastline or cross the bridge to hop on a shuttle with Explore Jax Core Tours, where the city’s history, culture, and future unfold through vivid storytelling and physical representation.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Make-believe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make-believe. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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