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
as in fiction
Synonyms & Similar 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
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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
Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 19 Mar. 2025
Fake Wedding follows two broke singles who throw a fake wedding to cash in on the registry and the very real problems the make-believe couple encounters.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 17 Mar. 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
As a bonus, this reusable fake is a fun prop to keep around for make-believe health care provider visits.
—Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 19 Mar. 2025
Fake Wedding follows two broke singles who throw a fake wedding to cash in on the registry and the very real problems the make-believe couple encounters.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make-believe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make-believe
Adjective
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New York is a realm of fantasy and myth, obsession and resentment, fear and bewilderment for many who’ve never set foot in it; and many who live here also purvey and perpetuate some version of the imaginary city.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
10 May 2025
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The imaginary elements of the story — the witches, and the university — stem from growing up with my father, and reading novels by Julio Verne and Emilio Salgari.—
Ernesto Lechner,
Rolling Stone,
10 May 2025
Noun
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In this fiction, the Crusades were not waged against Moors, but against elves – a race said to devour the flesh of humans, among other atrocities that are neither confirmed nor denied by the end of the story.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
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And the contemporary women’s fiction category, where Reid is often listed, ended 2024 with a nearly 30% increase in sales over 2019 numbers, according to analyst Kristen McLean.—
Lucy Feldman,
Time,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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The two stars of the Emmy-winning 1990s romantic comedy series Northern Exposure, set in the zany fictitious town of Cicely, Alaska, are adding their names to the avalanche of television stars binging their old shows, offering commentary about the storylines and sharing behind-the-scenes tales.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
6 May 2025
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Later on, Weekend Update featured a trio of guest appearances from Bowen Yang who resurrected his recurring Chinese trade minister Chen Biao, Emil Wakim and his notes on American patriotism and Sarah Sherman as Jost’s fictitious accountant Dawn Altman.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In a hiring simulation, managers who didn't use AI themselves were less likely to hire candidates who regularly used AI tools.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2025
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Unlike simulations, real-world production environments provide the richest datasets for uncovering inefficiencies and improvement opportunities.—
Matthew Putman,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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Ready to swap the real-world drama for a fictional web of secrets and lies?—
Andrea Bartz,
People.com,
18 May 2025
-
The kind now best distilled into a fictional massacre in a galaxy far, far away.—
Manuel Betancourt,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2025
Noun
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The domesticity that Bix and Cass get to experience here is a cruelly poor imitation.—
Jesse Hassenger,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2025
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Becca’s disintegration emphasizes the parts of her that endure; the avatar, on the other hand, is a parody of that real flesh, an uncanny and malevolent imitation.—
Alexandra Kleeman,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Helios, the Greek god of the sun, and Luna, the mythical goddess of the moon, stand guard at either end of Celestial Park.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 May 2025
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The green obsidian was also thought to have a symbolic connection to Tollan, a mythical city where the god Quetzalcoatl lived, which was believed to be the ancestral origin of Mexico’s civilizations.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
16 May 2025
Noun
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The author makes no representation and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information contained in this article.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
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The Newhouse family will continue as shareholders in the combined entity and have board representation.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Make-believe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make-believe. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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