as in imaginary
not real and existing only in the imagination
zoomed around the house in a make-believe car
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Example Sentences
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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
Matt Donnelly, Variety, 25 Jan. 2025
Guests explore interactive and immersive make-believe film sets, props, creatures and characters.
—Roger Sands, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
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
Tatum is perfect as a douchey A-lister, looking for authenticity and street cred alongside real soldiers in a make-believe scenario.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 25 Jan. 2025
Guests explore interactive and immersive make-believe film sets, props, creatures and characters.
—Roger Sands, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make-believe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make-believe
Adjective
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In the case of the imaginary fruit, for example, glucose and citric acid would be used.—
Gayoung Lee,
Scientific American,
28 Feb. 2025
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Some of the stories are set in the past, others in the present, and still others in an imaginary future.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Survivor 48 star Stephanie Berger is not rooting for Vula after that Tribal Council Fact or fiction?—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
6 Mar. 2025
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The ones who worked in fiction are coming to us, but most of them already came.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The 10-episode series (now streaming) follows the follies of the fictitious NBA team, the Los Angeles Waves, after Isla Gordon (Hudson) steps in to run it with her brothers (Drew Tarver and Scott MacArthur) when another (Justin Theroux) checks into rehab.—
Erin Jensen,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2025
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Another alleged scam involved the defendants posing as fictitious real estate owners and tricking victims into thinking a legitimate sale of property was occurring, then pocketing the money.—
Terry Castleman,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Showing off demos of impressive interactive experiences built with the models, like a time travel simulation that’s intuitive, visual, and multi-model, Mollick then talks about two scaling laws that apply: One is that larger models are more capable.—
John Werner,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
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In 1,000 simulations of the same game events, Utah HC would have a 91 percent chance of beating the Blackhawks, according to MoneyPuck.com.—
Scott Powers,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Set in a fictional recreation of the Secunderabad area that gives the film its title, early glimpses have already generated substantial buzz among Indian cinema fans.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
7 Mar. 2025
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The series follows the (fictional) famous televangelist family of the Gemstones, led by widowed patriarch Eli (played by John Goodman) alongside his immature children Jesse (Danny McBride), Judy (Edi Patterson) and Kelvin (Adam DeVine).—
Kirsten Chuba,
The Hollywood Reporter,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
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And while imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, affinity and envy aren’t enough to explain the abruptness and totality of the Trump administration’s adoption of every Russian position.—
Garry Kasparov,
The Atlantic,
28 Feb. 2025
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Sage, cloves, garlic, pepper, green pepper, imitation vanilla, and some herbs tend to take on a strong, bitter flavor.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The success of your AI initiatives doesn't depend on finding that mythical, perfect leader.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
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Under Azra’s oppressive regime, a rebellion headed by a mythical figure known as Uchawi, in alliance with the forest-dwelling Root Sisters, has grown in the shadows to take back Talamh and restore its magical essence.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This year’s index ranks countries based on ten measures, including pay, education, parental leave, and representation in leadership roles.—
Kim Elsesser,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
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Podcaster Kenny Beecham and his Enjoy Basketball media and lifestyle brand have signed with WME for representation in all areas.—
Etan Vlessing,
The Hollywood Reporter,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Make-believe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make-believe. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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