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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fictional
Even Wernher von Braun’s fictional doppelgänger, Dr. Strangelove, might have winced at such breezy talk of thermonuclear explosions.
—
Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2025
But the real-life and fictional Happy Gilmores are far from perfect analogues.
—Sean Gentille, New York Times, 28 July 2025
Floyd's Chance was among an exclusive set of Genoa City (the fictional setting of the CBS sudser) elites invited to France by Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn) to hide out from an unpredictable killer who'd already slain Germain Rivers' Damian Kane.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 28 July 2025
The story centers around a die-hard musical theater fan who plays his favorite (fictional) 1920s musical on his record player, bringing the show to life within his apartment.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fictional
Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2025
But the real-life and fictional Happy Gilmores are far from perfect analogues.
—Sean Gentille, New York Times, 28 July 2025
Floyd's Chance was among an exclusive set of Genoa City (the fictional setting of the CBS sudser) elites invited to France by Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn) to hide out from an unpredictable killer who'd already slain Germain Rivers' Damian Kane.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 28 July 2025
The story centers around a die-hard musical theater fan who plays his favorite (fictional) 1920s musical on his record player, bringing the show to life within his apartment.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fictional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fictional
Adjective
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An adoption of a fictitious docudrama style, where scenarios are created for the show’s cast, brought in more subpar episodes which many feel didn’t help the cause.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
22 July 2025
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Unsurprisingly, then, scammers are also keen to exploit this by way of fictitious job opportunities through unofficial channels, websites, emails, and text messages.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
Adjective
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Is all this merely a sci-fi imaginary consideration?—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
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Any other Countdown viewers dig their fingernails into an imaginary steering wheel when this second SUV followed his buddy into this left turn with zero regard for the oncoming white sedan?!—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
18 July 2025
Adjective
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Py for the programming language Python, and Theus for Theseus, after the Greek hero who killed the mythical Minotaur.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
21 July 2025
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The name Siren's Curse comes from the mythical sirens who reside in Lake Erie and lure sailors with their singing.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fictional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fictional. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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