as in imaginary
not real and existing only in the imagination
zoomed around the house in a make-believe car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
make believe
2 of 3phrase
as in pretend
to present a false appearance of
He made believe he was sick to get out of going to school.
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in fiction
Related Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of make-believe
Stephanie Madsen, The Conversation, 22 July 2025
Over the weekend, fan pages salivated over make-believe crossovers and posse cuts, not really considering the prospect of this being purely a solo album.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 21 July 2025
Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2023
The internet provided a fertile new stage for my proclivity for make-believe.
—Kira Homsher, Longreads, 14 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for make-believe
Adjective
Solitary play might be a lot more fun if a make-believe teammate could provide an assist, or an invisible coach could appear and shout instructions during practice.
—Stephanie Madsen, The Conversation, 22 July 2025
Over the weekend, fan pages salivated over make-believe crossovers and posse cuts, not really considering the prospect of this being purely a solo album.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 21 July 2025
Phrase
Yet in the past, intimate scenes in theater, film and television were rarely treated with the same mindfulness as a make-believe duel.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2023
The internet provided a fertile new stage for my proclivity for make-believe.
—Kira Homsher, Longreads, 14 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for make-believe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make-believe
Adjective
-
Now it's woke again for trying to wipe an imaginary farmer from its logo.—
Neal Rubin,
Freep.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Americans love to keep an imaginary list of life milestones–buy a home, start a family, hit six figures, all complete with age expiration dates.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The rich variety of colors on the covers of the books on the shelves signals romance fiction, too.—
JR Radcliffe,
jsonline.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Some original pulp fiction provided enough specifics to help readers navigate real-life lesbian locations, and The New Lesbian Pulp does the same.—
Trish Bendix
August 21,
Literary Hub,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Rather than young school children, our heroes are octogenarians living in a rather upmarket retirement home (the fictitious Coopers Chase).—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
-
The association that Fuller makes with an entirely fictitious racial group—Indo-European for many racists both inside and outside the fascist movement, and more specifically Indo-German for some Nazis—only occurred later.—
Stewart Home
August 22,
Literary Hub,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
For the simulations, moving images are projected onto the wall and two side windows while natural sounds from the outside of each sacred space, such as birds, wind or cars whizzing by, create a sense of being in that place.—
Hanna Kang,
Oc Register,
21 Aug. 2025
-
In one classroom, several large screens are mounted on the walls and offer virtual simulation of surgeries.—
Beth Warren,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The jackalope is a fictional animal that originated in North America and is characterized by a rabbit with horns or antlers.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
-
The fictional season of Formula 1, heavily featuring Brad Pitt, is on course to break $600 million in ticket sales before the end of the week.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The legislation spawned imitation by Republicans from Virginia to Kansas, but little consideration that most Americans probably thought both sides had good points to make.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
19 Aug. 2025
-
That includes the obnoxious power strip, the slinky of cords coiled like a bad habit, and the dozens of imitation wireless chargers that still lean on cable spaghetti hidden under the table.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Finding leaders who operate successfully across these tensions seems theoretical, borderline mythical at best.—
Dilan Gomih,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
-
The redistricting was then lampooned in a political cartoon, showing the districts in the shape of a winged mythical beast.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Frisson reflects that process with a visual representation of your emotional connection.—
Sixteen Ramos,
USA Today,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Relying on that representation, Trinity Broadcasting increased Peteski’s share in Merit Street to 70% while diluting its stake to 30% for nothing.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Make-believe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make-believe. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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