FICTITIOUS Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'fictitious' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of fictitious are apocryphal , fabulous , legendary , and mythical . While all these words mean "having the nature of something imagined or invented," fictitious implies fabrication and suggests artificiality or contrivance more than deliberate falsification or deception. // fictitious characters

Q: When would 'apocryphal' be a good substitute for 'fictitious'?

The words apocryphal and fictitious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, apocryphal implies an unknown or dubious source or origin or may imply that the thing itself is dubious or inaccurate. // a book that repeats many apocryphal stories

Q: Where would 'fabulous' be a reasonable alternative to 'fictitious'?

The synonyms fabulous and fictitious are sometimes interchangeable, but fabulous stresses the marvelous or incredible character of something without necessarily implying impossibility or actual nonexistence. // a land of fabulous riches

Q: In what contexts can 'legendary' take the place of 'fictitious'?

Although the words legendary and fictitious have much in common, legendary suggests the elaboration of invented details and distortion of historical facts produced by popular tradition. // the legendary exploits of Davy Crockett

Q: When can 'mythical' be used instead of 'fictitious'?

While in some cases nearly identical to fictitious , mythical implies a purely fanciful explanation of facts or the creation of beings and events out of the imagination. // mythical creatures

fictitious

adjective

fik-ˈti-shəs

Definition of fictitious next

as in fictional

not real and existing only in the imagination his wartime exploits turned out to be entirely fictitious, as he had never even been in the military

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How is the word fictitious distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of fictitious are apocryphal, fabulous, legendary, and mythical. While all these words mean "having the nature of something imagined or invented," fictitious implies fabrication and suggests artificiality or contrivance more than deliberate falsification or deception.

fictitious characters

When would apocryphal be a good substitute for fictitious?

The words apocryphal and fictitious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, apocryphal implies an unknown or dubious source or origin or may imply that the thing itself is dubious or inaccurate.

a book that repeats many apocryphal stories

Where would fabulous be a reasonable alternative to fictitious?

The synonyms fabulous and fictitious are sometimes interchangeable, but fabulous stresses the marvelous or incredible character of something without necessarily implying impossibility or actual nonexistence.

a land of fabulous riches

In what contexts can legendary take the place of fictitious?

Although the words legendary and fictitious have much in common, legendary suggests the elaboration of invented details and distortion of historical facts produced by popular tradition.

the legendary exploits of Davy Crockett

When can mythical be used instead of fictitious?

While in some cases nearly identical to fictitious, mythical implies a purely fanciful explanation of facts or the creation of beings and events out of the imagination.

mythical creatures

Examples 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 fictitious The film, set in a fictitious northern Indian state, is structured as a police procedural but one with Indian caste and religion politics deeply baked into it. —

Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 23 Oct. 2024 Comments The Conjuring has spooked audiences for over a decade since its release, but the premise of the movie isn't as fictitious as people may think. —

Keith Langston, People.com, 20 Oct. 2024 With a gender-bending twist. Warriors, a 26-song project (out Oct. 18), follows a fictitious New York City gang from Coney Island to the Bronx and back when they are framed for the murder of a respected gang leader, Cyrus. —

Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 18 Oct. 2024 Beforehand, you are encouraged to read my guide (this example is fictitious). —

Lance Eliot, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fictitious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fictitious

Adjective

Set in the fictional town of Salem, Illionois, Days of Our Lives follows the lives of several families including the Bradys, the Hortons, the Carvers, the DiMeras and the Kiriakises.

Marc Berman, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Plus, this isn't that much of a political fantasy: There's no way both the president and the vice president could be women, even in this fictional world.

Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024