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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The Emmy Award-winner plays the Black woman stand-in for a white male protagonist in an imaginary story to repurpose the popularity of a once successful Keyworth Pictures’ franchise.—
Malik Peay,
Essence,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Perception Of Threat: In situations of aggression, whether real or imaginary, a natural response is to fight back.—
Naira Velumyan,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The engaging historical fiction balances a serious side and a strong sense of humor with its two different main characters: While Benedict has conservative leanings, Bergoglio is a liberal seeking church reform, and their debate tells a tale of human understanding and fallibility.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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Rather than strain to add an arthouse veneer (or the climactic reveal of an animating trauma), Coogler offers a true synthesis between serious-minded fiction and B-movie camp.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Amid the audience laughter at a lecture, U.S. Navy oceanographer Robert Ballard bit his tongue and told the questioner the jewelry was fictitious.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Searches were carried out in France and Belgium last month to determine if his Belgian tax domicile was fictitious.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Computer simulations were having trouble explaining this movement of the streams.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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The training center will feature simulations of places where police, firefighters and medics go — a bathroom where someone slipped and fell, a hotel and more.—
Ryan Oehrli,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The star and executive producer briefly revived the series in the fictional town of Lanford, Illinois, two decades later in March 2018.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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Kanopy won’t be competing with A24 for Sundance titles anytime soon, but Tyrell hopes to pursue not just documentaries but fictional book adaptations that can tap into a crossover audience of film lovers and avid readers.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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These ivory pieces, showing signs of intentional modification, may represent the earliest evidence of deliberate ivory processing, possibly crafted by children as imitations of tools.—
Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
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People can learn what's acceptable and what's not through observation and imitation, and talking about other people's experiences can act as a warning sign for ourselves.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The series titles alludes to mythical and powerful ancient artifacts from the game universe.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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The First Shadow is a stand-alone prequel to the series, and its creators say the play is, in fact, canon to its mythical universe, and could be referenced in the upcoming Season Five of the series.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This is due in part to the lack of representation in leadership roles and the prevalence of bias in hiring and promotion decisions.—
Joce Blake,
Essence,
22 Apr. 2025
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Information about his legal representation was not immediately available.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Make-believe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make-believe. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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