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
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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
Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2026
Alongside her, child actors dance and frolic with shadow puppetry in the land of make-believe, where youths go on adventures and learn math, science and reading skills.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
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
Alongside her, child actors dance and frolic with shadow puppetry in the land of make-believe, where youths go on adventures and learn math, science and reading skills.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2026
Alongside her, child actors dance and frolic with shadow puppetry in the land of make-believe, where youths go on adventures and learn math, science and reading skills.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for make-believe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make-believe
Adjective
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Nobody has ever called Brentford head coach Keith Andrews a magical or imaginary being.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Circumpolar stars Astronomers use a common set of reference points to project Earth’s north and south poles, and the equator, onto the celestial sphere, an imaginary sphere encompassing the sky.—
Vahe Peroomian,
The Conversation,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Every month, Emma Alpern and Jasmine Vojdani recommend new fiction and nonfiction books.—
Jasmine Vojdani,
Vulture,
5 Mar. 2026
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That Hayley — who reveals herself to be a former escort hired by Whitney — plays such a pivotal role as both a convenient victim and the one who actually procures young women for Whitney’s blackmail schemes is another point where reality and fiction begin to dovetail.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In a signal of how much pressure there was to do right by the beloved fictional couple, four endings were written and filmed.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The Irish Triangle may sound like a fictional, far-away land, but, luckily for Louisvillians, this magical corner of the Highlands is very real.—
Amanda Hancock,
Louisville Courier Journal,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Compared with simulations that only included traditional ice reflectivity, the version with salt deposits required much stronger warming before the frozen planet could begin to thaw.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Mar. 2026
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The council holds regular trainings and simulations for potential threats to strengthen communication and coordination.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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To ventriloquize one’s parent is a bold move, and fictitious Barbara would absolutely read it as a betrayal.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Who wants to sit through a fictitious novelist’s clumsy drafts?—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Bruno Mars’ heroes are drowning in compliments.—
Brittany Spanos,
Pitchfork,
3 Mar. 2026
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Homage, though, doesn’t mean imitation.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Sightings of mythical creatures in Rhode Island are far and few between these days, but a giant serpent that supposedly once lived in the woods of present-day Coventry is the subject of enduring local lore.—
Antonia Noori Farzan,
The Providence Journal,
6 Mar. 2026
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Some figures raise their arms in poses that suggest bodybuilders or mythic heroes.—
Miguel Sirgado,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But the letter is yet another representation of the growing consensus on the left against consolidation that brings major news organizations under one roof, particularly when that house is owned by Ellison.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
6 Mar. 2026
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Yet despite Mattel’s widening representation, sometimes there’s no storytelling more powerful than the hardships and accomplishments of a real person.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Make-believe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make-believe. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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