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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Unlike the more familiar real numbers – positive and negative integers, fractions, square roots, cube roots and even numbers such as pi – complex numbers have an imaginary component.—
William Ross,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2025
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The system that most captured his imagination was an imaginary device that had launched the field of computer science, the Turing machine.—
Charlie Wood,
Quanta Magazine,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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It is now being reissued in a deluxe edition by prestige publisher Folio Society, with illustrations by Doug Bell, occasioning Miéville to sit for an interview looking back at the book’s impact on his career, the cultural influence of speculative fiction, and what’s next for him and his work.—
Rob Salkowitz,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
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Dumont observes both the underclass and the otherworldly — elevating the analogies found in speculative fiction.—
Armond White,
National Review,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Putin cannot refuse a ceasefire, without losing the fictitious moral high ground.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN,
11 Mar. 2025
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The report did not mention any instances of dead or fictitious employees getting paid.—
Laura Doan,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The simulations revealed that around 14% of these bodies are formed in pairs or triplets with separations around seven to 15 times the distance between the sun and Earth.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
10 Mar. 2025
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By replicating real-world crisis scenarios, these simulations give responders a low-risk space to practice decision-making, communication, and emotional regulation.—
Edward Segal,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In this mostly fictional version, the reclusive Omara has to decide whether or not to come back from retirement and record with her old colleagues from the fervent Cuban years, thus confronting those ghosts.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
20 Mar. 2025
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Here are our 25 favorite pairs of fictional best friends from movies and TV.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
EW.com,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Many of them can do a solid imitation of the Dikembe Mutombo finger wag.—
Daniel Brown,
The Athletic,
16 Feb. 2025
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The Heat have done a very credible imitation of the Washington Generals recently.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Hamilton achieved most of these minimal brake moments while driving for Mercedes for 12 seasons, except for one out-of-reach trophy: turning seven championship titles into the mythical record-setting eight.—
Olivia Hicks,
NPR,
15 Mar. 2025
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The furniture collection was inspired by sea life, the mythical sea creatures of Ancient Greece and is composed of the Lorelei armchair and sofa, Ligea coffee tables, Neomeris carpet, Nereide sofa, Ploto low tables, Seidon sofa, Sibelia low tables and Teti pouf.—
Sofia Celeste,
WWD,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This scene also reveals something that gets to the heart of many corporate diversity initiatives and the limitations of representation.—
Banseka Kayembe,
refinery29.com,
17 Mar. 2025
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This includes integrating data from urban, suburban and rural populations, ensuring representation across racial and ethnic groups, and accounting for socioeconomic and lifestyle differences that impact health outcomes. 3.—
Sanjay Juneja,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Make-believe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make-believe. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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