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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 fictional
The movie, while fictional, depicted a situation that the United Nations estimates has ensnared hundreds of thousands of people in real life.
—
Monica Pitrelli, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2025
Terms & Conditions, a kinetic blend of a fictional Afro-futurist narrative, archival research on decades of Black visual and multimedia work, and personal history.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Jan. 2025
But as the research paper in Advanced Functional Materials notes—enter fictional characters.
—Sophie Charara, WIRED, 24 Jan. 2025
The duo first shared the screen in 1999's Any Given Sunday, which follows a fictional professional football team.
—Nicholas Rice, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for fictional 
Monica Pitrelli, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2025
Terms & Conditions, a kinetic blend of a fictional Afro-futurist narrative, archival research on decades of Black visual and multimedia work, and personal history.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Jan. 2025
But as the research paper in Advanced Functional Materials notes—enter fictional characters.
—Sophie Charara, WIRED, 24 Jan. 2025
The duo first shared the screen in 1999's Any Given Sunday, which follows a fictional professional football team.
—Nicholas Rice, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for fictional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fictional
Adjective
-
Given the clandestine nature of the process, the true number of fictitious sons who arrived during exclusion will never be known.—
Jane Hu,
The New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2025
-
It’s described as a biopic, but Peppiatt admits some parts of the story are fictitious.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
If a planet is visible from the night side of Earth, it can only ever be seen along an imaginary path through the sky called the ecliptic.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
-
Monday’s victory was only a month and a week removed from one of the more embarrassing losses of the Knicks season, an NBA Cup quarterfinal loss Young punctuated by rolling a set of imaginary die on The Garden’s center-court logo.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
According to the folklore, a mythical beast would come and devour villagers and livestock each Chinese New Year, but the beast was afraid of loud noises and the color red.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Jan. 2025
-
Villagers dressed as cranes, roosters and mythical lions pose for portraits standing amid crops or in fallow farmland.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN,
28 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near fictional
Cite this Entry
“Fictional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fictional. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share