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make-believe 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of make-believenext
as in imaginary
not real and existing only in the imagination zoomed around the house in a make-believe car

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

make-believe

2 of 3

noun

as in fiction

Related Words

make believe

3 of 3

phrase

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. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of make-believe
Adjective
Tesshi Nakagawa’s scenic design is like a toy kingdom that induces the audience into a state of make-believe. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026 But just as much of its humor came from portraying displays of everyday decency as the stuff of Hollywood make-believe, on par with the cinematic catharsis of a high-stakes Damon vehicle. — Erik Adams, The Atlantic, 10 May 2026
Noun
Beginning in 1999, when the girls are just nine, Sanguinetti captures their childhood games of make-believe slowly giving way to the weight of adulthood – work, family, motherhood and diverging paths. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 16 July 2026 The rhapsodies about Willow, paired with the silence surrounding the difficult dogs, contribute to a sense of make-believe and avoidance that pervade Biden’s memoir. — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 9 June 2026
Phrase
In fact, she’s cosplayed as various personas, real and make believe, many a time, often with Downs by her side. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026 So in this case, let’s make believe in some timeline that didn’t happen and my wife got a manicure that day. — Joel Feder, The Drive, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for make-believe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make-believe
  1. imaginary
  2. fiction
  3. fictional
  4. simulation
  5. fictitious
  6. imitation
  7. mythical
  8. representation
Adjective
  • Most writers don’t have those constraints, real or imaginary.
    — Louis Menand, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Eleven gullible idiots were talked into acquitting because of an imaginary female ailment.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of imaginary
Noun
  • But good fiction requires novelists to step beyond niceness and toward some richer mix of curiosity and compassion.
    — Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Doyle, who limped through a medical career before turning to a life of crime fiction at the age of twenty-seven, had studied under Bell in the late 1870s, marveling at the doctor’s careful reasoning and indefatigable intuition.
    — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of fiction
Adjective
  • Although this hypothetical technology was long considered to be exclusively a fictional idea, a growing number of physicists have begun to wonder if warp drives might really be possible, and if not in a practical sense, at least on paper.
    — Micah Hanks, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • This fictional tale based on real events looks at the impact of civil war on the country, just as Yemen is on the edge of a possible return to the conflict that killed 150,000 and brought many others close to famine.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of fictional
Noun
  • The 12-month Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) supports the Army’s Capability Program Executive Simulation, Training, Test and Threat (CPE ST3), which develops and fields technologies for military simulation, testing and training.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Although regions may use different criteria, in the simulation, all standings were determined by 1) region record; 2) head-to-head results; 3) point differential; 4) classification record; and 5) random tiebreaker.
    — Loren Maxwell, AJC.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of simulation
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
Noun
  • Santo Domingo admits there are certain people whose imitation simply gets under her skin.
    — Alesandra Dubin, Glamour, 17 Sep. 2026
  • According to the criminal complaint, police found an imitation pistol in the suspect’s bag.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of imitation
Adjective
  • In that dialogue, Endymion, the mythical shepherd, is imprisoned in an eternal sleep by Artemis and accosts a stranger who is on his way to Mount Latmus, where Endymion repairs each night to wait for Artemis.
    — Max Norman, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Over the past few decades, Bimota has reached an almost mythical status in the motorcycle community.
    — Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of mythical
Noun
  • After reporting that a number of talent agents were circling the AI actress for representation, the story quickly sparked a global debate and firmly put Zurich at the forefront of the conversation.
    — Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Create a cross-functional team comprised of legal, ethical, technical ​and business, with diverse representation and the authority to halt deployments that fail safety standards.
    — Jessica Vitiritti, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of representation

Browse Nearby Words

make away with
make-believe
make believe
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Cite this Entry

“Make-believe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make-believe. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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