as in fictitious
not real and existing only in the imagination
the events in the horror movie seemed so real to some fans that they could not believe that the whole thing was fictional
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Recent Examples of fictional
After an accidental death spurs a sinister epiphany, the screenwriter starts committing the murders of his script’s fictional serial killer in a desperate attempt to generate the IP necessary to get his movie made.
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Matt Grobar, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
Murakami isn’t so much a novelist as a fictional anthologist, collating various monologues delivered by his characters; some of these are riveting narratives in their own right, but many simply serve to explain what’s going on or clumsily advance the plot.
—Bailey Trela, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
The fictional radio news personality played by Richard Sanders gives the most amazing live account to radio listeners when WKRP's station manager, Arthur Carlson, kicks off his latest Thanksgiving promotion — a live turkey drop.
—Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 19 Nov. 2024
Bush Hager plays a sports reporter in the film while Kelce stars as a fictional manager of a Kansas City barbecue restaurant.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fictional 
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
Murakami isn’t so much a novelist as a fictional anthologist, collating various monologues delivered by his characters; some of these are riveting narratives in their own right, but many simply serve to explain what’s going on or clumsily advance the plot.
—Bailey Trela, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
The fictional radio news personality played by Richard Sanders gives the most amazing live account to radio listeners when WKRP's station manager, Arthur Carlson, kicks off his latest Thanksgiving promotion — a live turkey drop.
—Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 19 Nov. 2024
Bush Hager plays a sports reporter in the film while Kelce stars as a fictional manager of a Kansas City barbecue restaurant.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fictional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fictional
Adjective
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Everyone read a fictitious story about a school that was running out of water because its local aquifer was drying up.Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 9 Oct. 2024
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To Kaplan, the onscreen romantic chemistry between the two fictitious lead characters, rival booksellers Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly, drew her attention.David Chiu, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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And the exasperation goes from imaginary frustration to real annoyance.Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 18 Nov. 2024
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And through her mesmerizing filmmaking, Kapadia creates a world that didn’t seem possible — which, of course, reinforces how imaginary this new place might prove to be.Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Global news platforms picked up on the backstory of this almost mythical character, one who certainly looked the part, with Chang’s flowing robes and beard, often with a pet gibbon trailing in his wake.Mathew Scott, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2024
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Tinker bells and mermaids, and there are so many more statues of women as mythical figures than women who have lived and fought and celebrated.CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near fictional
Cite this Entry
“Fictional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fictional. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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