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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Recent Examples of fictional
Lawrence and the late pope’s acceptance allows viewers to interpret how the fictional Catholic Church — which was divided between staying in its traditionalist ways or adapting to the current times — will change in the future because of its new pope.
—
Caroline Blair, People.com, 23 Apr. 2025
The process was dramatized in the recent movie Conclave, which explores a fictional papal vote.
—Howard Chua-Eoan, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025
Just like in this fictional story, in real life, just under a half a million people journey to Spain to walk the Camino each year.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2025
Bad Summer People, which has drawn comparisons to The White Lotus, is set in the idyllic fictional town of Salcombe, Fire Island, and follows a sequence of life shattering events when a body is discovered off the side of the boardwalk.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fictional
Caroline Blair, People.com, 23 Apr. 2025
The process was dramatized in the recent movie Conclave, which explores a fictional papal vote.
—Howard Chua-Eoan, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025
Just like in this fictional story, in real life, just under a half a million people journey to Spain to walk the Camino each year.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2025
Bad Summer People, which has drawn comparisons to The White Lotus, is set in the idyllic fictional town of Salcombe, Fire Island, and follows a sequence of life shattering events when a body is discovered off the side of the boardwalk.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fictional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fictional
Adjective
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Amid the audience laughter at a lecture, U.S. Navy oceanographer Robert Ballard bit his tongue and told the questioner the jewelry was fictitious.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
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Searches were carried out in France and Belgium last month to determine if his Belgian tax domicile was fictitious.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The Emmy Award-winner plays the Black woman stand-in for a white male protagonist in an imaginary story to repurpose the popularity of a once successful Keyworth Pictures’ franchise.—
Malik Peay,
Essence,
17 Apr. 2025
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Perception Of Threat: In situations of aggression, whether real or imaginary, a natural response is to fight back.—
Naira Velumyan,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The series titles alludes to mythical and powerful ancient artifacts from the game universe.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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The First Shadow is a stand-alone prequel to the series, and its creators say the play is, in fact, canon to its mythical universe, and could be referenced in the upcoming Season Five of the series.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fictional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fictional. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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