1
as in synthetic
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials
presumably the statue is of factitious marble, because for that price you're not going to get the real stuff
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in false
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
the factitious friendliness shown by the beauty-pageant contestants to one another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of factitious
Another was shorting Valeant, the high-flyer with factitious revenue growth.
—
William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
With this announcement, factitious (in my opinion) concerns about Amazon being behind in GenAI will be reduced big time.
—Sandy Carter, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
This is a useful inquiry, because we in the modern world are inundated by manipulated or factitious statistics, fabricated by marketers and politicians, promoted on social media and swallowed whole by news organizations.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2023
Their connection to these was as factitious as their previous link to toothpaste.
—David Mamet, National Review, 31 Mar. 2022
Marc Feldman, the American psychiatrist who popularized the term Munchausen by internet, has noticed that most of the cases of factitious disorder that come to his attention involve women.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2021
Almanacs aren’t always — and haven’t always been — so fastidiously factitious.
—Mark Athitakis, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2020
William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
With this announcement, factitious (in my opinion) concerns about Amazon being behind in GenAI will be reduced big time.
—Sandy Carter, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
This is a useful inquiry, because we in the modern world are inundated by manipulated or factitious statistics, fabricated by marketers and politicians, promoted on social media and swallowed whole by news organizations.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2023
Their connection to these was as factitious as their previous link to toothpaste.
—David Mamet, National Review, 31 Mar. 2022
Marc Feldman, the American psychiatrist who popularized the term Munchausen by internet, has noticed that most of the cases of factitious disorder that come to his attention involve women.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2021
Almanacs aren’t always — and haven’t always been — so fastidiously factitious.
—Mark Athitakis, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for factitious
Adjective
-
Surf Sweets offers gummy worms and bears without synthetic colors.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Textile Exchange said these finding support its pathways to preferred production systems, which aim to eliminate or reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers in alignment with organic and regenerative production practices.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Sourcing Journal,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Lebohang Morake — the Grammy-winning South African composer behind the film’s opening Zulu vocals — filed a federal civil complaint in California on March 16 against the comedian, Learnmore Jonasi, alleging that the translation is false and damaging to his life’s work.—
Joe Kottke,
NBC news,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Rebollo, a 58-year-old Chula Vista resident, pleaded guilty in December in San Diego federal court to one count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of filing a false tax return and one count related to Social Security fraud.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
These faux linen drapes from NiceTown build on the versatility of semi-sheers with 16 color choices and both rod pocket and back tab installation options.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The chairs have metal frames for plenty of strength, durability, and stability, but they’re handpainted to offer a faux-wood look that feels more elevated and classic than a typical metal chair.—
Carly Totten,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
As his band’s popularity and star power rise, so does Lestat’s influence over vampires and humans alike, leaving others to contend with Lestat’s power in the face of the Great Conversion, an unnatural surge in the vampire population.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2026
-
While some can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and concerns, many are created with specific consumers and their needs in mind.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And Hammond is roughly the same distance from downtown Chicago as Arlington Heights; whichever direction the team moves, leaving windswept Soldier Field for the artificial environment of a dome means abandoning some of the proud misery that defines Bears football.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
An important aspect is the achievement of physiological pressure levels since the artificial placenta has to present a low resistance, a few tens of mmHg, similar to the natural placenta (typically below 70 mmHg·min·L^–1).—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In his new mock draft, Miller has the Bills picking up a key weapon.—
Andrew McCarty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
In addition to the original trunk and items on display, the Center for Sacramento History and the history museum created a mock trunk inspired by the original for school programs throughout the region.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
While people sometimes express this view in jest, others believe the fake environment borders on a cultural abomination.—
Adam Kadlac,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2026
-
With the Heat’s social media team posting a video of the dunks, Jakucionis joked that the video is fake.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Caissie was a late addition to Friday's lineup after first baseman Chris Morel was scratched because of a strained oblique.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Caissie was a late addition to Friday’s lineup after first baseman Chris Morel was scratched because of a strained oblique.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Factitious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/factitious. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
