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
Examples 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
Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 18 Sep. 2024
Acting is ultimately unfettered make-believe, and Adams returns to that most basic and essential form of play in her work.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 8 Sep. 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
Now all those slips were stuffed into a cigar box, then placed in a miniature grave in a make-believe burial.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 18 Sep. 2024
Acting is ultimately unfettered make-believe, and Adams returns to that most basic and essential form of play in her work.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for make-believe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make-believe
Adjective
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And the exasperation goes from imaginary frustration to real annoyance.Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 18 Nov. 2024
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And through her mesmerizing filmmaking, Kapadia creates a world that didn’t seem possible — which, of course, reinforces how imaginary this new place might prove to be.Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The books are mainly literary fiction, with occasional nonfiction.Brenda Stolyar, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2024
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In fiction, that’s not always true, but the principle of economy still applies.JD Barker, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Everyone read a fictitious story about a school that was running out of water because its local aquifer was drying up.Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 9 Oct. 2024
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To Kaplan, the onscreen romantic chemistry between the two fictitious lead characters, rival booksellers Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly, drew her attention.David Chiu, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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In a 2024 paper, Siraj and his co-authors ran simulations of the solar system, including an extra planet beyond Neptune.Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
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While quantum computing is not yet capable of solving large-scale problems independently, hybrid models—where quantum systems work in tandem with classical computing—can deliver significant performance boosts in specific areas, such as optimization and simulation.Yuval Boger, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Set in a fictional North Carolina town, One Tree Hill followed two half-brothers, Lucas (Murray) and Nathan (Lafferty), who are forced to navigate high school and social circles despite having a strained relationship.Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2024
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At the beginning of Gladiator II, he is forced to return to Rome after an army led by the fictional general Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) invades Numidia, kills Lucius’ wife and son, and sells him into slavery as a gladiator.Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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She's loved seeing so many positive responses to her sister's masterful imitation.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
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Fold in the remaining green parts of green onions, the imitation crab meat, sour cream, and Worcestershire sauce.Shelli McConnell, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Its length combines with its silver skin and bright red scarlet fins to give it a mythical look.Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
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Tinker bells and mermaids, and there are so many more statues of women as mythical figures than women who have lived and fought and celebrated.CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Buyer personas: Buyer personas involve detailed fictional representations of ideal customer profiles to fine-tune messaging for your high-value clients’ specific needs, behaviors and motivations.Jonathan Schwartz, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
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Because of her light-colored dress, Danni goes commando, which is an apt representation of their differing personalities.Emma Soren, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
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 30 Nov. 2024.
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