as in historical
restricted to or based on fact
a nonfictional account of a disastrous ascent of Mount Everest
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Recent Examples of nonfictional
Pee-Wee as Himself, the 2025 Emmy award winner for best documentary or nonfictional special, is also among the nominees.
—
Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
That delirious excess befits the essence of Lapid’s method, which is a fusion of fiction with indigestibly and irreducibly nonfictional elements.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
The days at the fictional Oak Canyon Ranch Retreat in the nonfictional Agoura Hills are loaded with incident — the retreat itself is essentially sleepaway camp, including pool time, games, a cookout, a talent show — and disasters.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Significant experiment The effort is part of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, a nonfictional experiment with detectors that will be immersed in huge baths of cryogenic liquid argon, which is going the opposite direction — down.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Jan. 2026
But what was more interesting to me are those who aren’t fantasizing about being in a fictional world, but who are fantasizing about being a different reader, in a more secure nonfictional world.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 13 Jan. 2026
Recently, this sacrament has garnered nonfictional attention.
—Timothy Gabrielli, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025
Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
That delirious excess befits the essence of Lapid’s method, which is a fusion of fiction with indigestibly and irreducibly nonfictional elements.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
The days at the fictional Oak Canyon Ranch Retreat in the nonfictional Agoura Hills are loaded with incident — the retreat itself is essentially sleepaway camp, including pool time, games, a cookout, a talent show — and disasters.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Significant experiment The effort is part of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, a nonfictional experiment with detectors that will be immersed in huge baths of cryogenic liquid argon, which is going the opposite direction — down.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Jan. 2026
But what was more interesting to me are those who aren’t fantasizing about being in a fictional world, but who are fantasizing about being a different reader, in a more secure nonfictional world.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 13 Jan. 2026
Recently, this sacrament has garnered nonfictional attention.
—Timothy Gabrielli, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonfictional
Adjective
-
Leveraging technology to render complete 3D worlds based on meticulous historical research, the exhibition is much more than panels on a wall.—
Penny E Schwartz,
Oc Register,
21 June 2026
-
The volatility component seeks stocks with a lower 36-month historical return volatility.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Adjective
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Mistaken identity is supposed to be a factual decision, like most offsides, so the referee does not need to watch it back.—
Ben Burrows,
New York Times,
13 June 2026
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While this is essential, factual accuracy on its own does not make a statement credible.—
Jennifer Best,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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Paul Dugdale directed, with documentary segments from Farah X, and Live Nation Studios produced.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
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Billy Ray Brewton, Sav Rodgers, Brittany Shyne served on the documentary jury.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
21 June 2026
Adjective
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The star of upcoming The Odyssey arrived in a literal Trojan horse to sneak onto the stage.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
19 June 2026
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Food can cross borders both literal and figurative, even when people cannot.—
Ashley Rose Young,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nonfictional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonfictional. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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