1
: fully manufactured
2
: marked by the use of makeup
3
: fancifully conceived or falsely devised

Examples of made-up in a Sentence

the bogeyman was one of those made-up monsters whose sole purpose was to threaten children
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Telling lies to appease a user even if a false or made-up answer is provided. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024 But to pursue a state of purity—even a fictional one; even a made-up, obviously impure one—still feels righteous. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2024 Not long after that, the reader’s manager started reprimanding Autumn Leaves 523 for humming, misdirecting a package, and other minor or made-up infractions. Karla Miller, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024 Her mother Dee Dee Blanchard lived with Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a psychological disorder in which parents or caregivers seek sympathy through the exaggerated or made-up illnesses of their children. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2023 Under the visage of the monster he was made-up to be, shined the kindest of spirits. Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 14 Dec. 2023 Clad in a bright matching jumpsuit, blonde hair wrapped delicately in a chic scarf and face made-up proper, donning oversized sunglasses, her charisma is on full display. Holly Jones, Variety, 15 Oct. 2023 Gorgeously made-up, with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, a corset, and a cloak, Inanna set forth. Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 11 Aug. 2022 The score was made-up of averages from an air and water quality sub-category and a pollution sub-category. Sydney Carruth, The Arizona Republic, 3 May 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of made-up was in 1725

Dictionary Entries Near made-up

Cite this Entry

“Made-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/made-up. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

made-up

adjective
ˈmā-ˈdəp
1
: created from the imagination
a made-up story
2
: marked by the use of makeup
made-up eyelids

More from Merriam-Webster on made-up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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