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
as in fiction
Synonyms & Similar Words
make believe
3 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
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 make-believe
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
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2024
This is important because the fantasy genre frequently explores real-world oppression through make-believe people.
—Caitlin Penzeymoog, Vox, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for make-believe 
Adjective
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
Noun
But the almost bland textures of this section feel relevant to the whole project, as Erice sets up a stark contrast between the magic world of cinematic make-believe and the humdrum nature of base reality.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2024
This is important because the fantasy genre frequently explores real-world oppression through make-believe people.
—Caitlin Penzeymoog, Vox, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for make-believe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make-believe
Adjective
-
Advertisement Since Southern California was located somewhere near 6:30 on this imaginary clock face, the result was winds traveling from east to west — the opposite of their normal direction.Ned Kleiner, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
-
The feature, from experimental filmmaker Matthew Rankin, is an absurdist comedy set in an imaginary Canada where French and Farsi are the country’s two official languages.Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The film, which stars Dern, Justin Theroux, and Jeremy Irons, is another meditation on Hollywood, blurring the lines between layers of fiction and dizzyingly captured with a digital camcorder.Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 16 Jan. 2025
-
This read will especially appeal to those who have an affinity for historical fiction authors like Vanessa Riley (Island Queen, Queen of Exiles), Piper Hughley (By Her Own Design, American Daughters), and Victoria Christopher Murray (The First Ladies, The Personal Librarian).Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
However, that didn’t stop the fictitious school district from announcing closings as the North Texas deals with freezing rain and snow.Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Jan. 2025
-
Much like the fictitious film, Moss’s relationship with his youngest child’s mother has been tumultuous.Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
City-Scale Digital Twins The digital twin concept involves creating virtual replicas, modeled using real-world data, in order to create simulations that can be used for planning and managing development.Bernard Marr, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
-
Smallville is a Farmville-like simulation involving characters that communicate and interact with each other under the control of large language models.Will Knight, WIRED, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Like their fictional counterparts, Taylor-Joy and Delevingne often hit the town together, including a 2023 girls’ night out that included Taylor Swift, Zoë Kravitz, and Golden Globe double nominee Selena Gomez.EW.com, EW.com, 6 Jan. 2025
-
Winslet was nominated for best performance by a female actor in a drama for her role as a photojournalist in Lee and best performance by a female actor in a limited anthology series for television as a fictional dictator in The Regime.Rachel Flynn, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Since sharing the video in July, the clip has received more than 350,000 views and spawned numerous imitations.The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2025
-
They’re played by Monica Barbaro (now a SAG nominee for her performance) and Boyd Holbrook with a loose reverence for the actual people, with performances that, instead of imitation, take cues from the music itself.Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
There’s a reason that on his goalie mask is painted a mythical phoenix, rising from the ashes.Kevin Kurz, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
-
What To Know Hindu pilgrims gather at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers, seeking liberation from the cycle of rebirth.John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
These investments serve as tangible representations of values and as enduring elements of one’s legacy.Anushree Jain, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
-
This includes endorsing drivers like Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, whose vehicles wore the McDonald's logo during the 2024 NASCAR season, with plans for continued representation in 2025.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near make-believe
Cite this Entry
“Make-believe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make-believe. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share