1
as in illusion
a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality
unable to find any tracks in the snow the next morning, I was forced to conclude that the shadowy figure had been a figment of my imagination
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fiction
something that is the product of the imagination
thus far, the invisible human being has been nothing more than a figment of fantasy writers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of figment
China occupies islands across the South China Sea without even a figment of legal right.
—
David Frum, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
That practice remained with Cronin over the next six months, providing a figment to cling to as Dent failed to re-enact that greatness.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 27 Feb. 2026
Excusing those two flickers of broken hegemony, the WSL’s highest echelon has been an unassailable strongbox, a figment of the rest of the table’s imagination.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Soon, though, her world is turned upside down by an unsettling and persistent stalker — or just a figment of her own fracturing psyche.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for figment
David Frum, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
That practice remained with Cronin over the next six months, providing a figment to cling to as Dent failed to re-enact that greatness.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 27 Feb. 2026
Excusing those two flickers of broken hegemony, the WSL’s highest echelon has been an unassailable strongbox, a figment of the rest of the table’s imagination.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Soon, though, her world is turned upside down by an unsettling and persistent stalker — or just a figment of her own fracturing psyche.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for figment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for figment
Noun
-
The lobby’s circular floor plan gives the illusion of a lily pad floating atop a koi pond.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
-
Over the course of less than two months, these Islanders would be disarmed by the sun, the machinations of the producers, and the illusion of isolation and being apart from their phones for the first time in their lives.—
Anna Peele,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
But mostly, the intertwining threads just sit there, never coming together in any satisfying way or holding up as their own story within the story, despite how hard the writers work at showing that reality can inspire fiction but fiction can also bounce back to influence reality.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
-
For the week ending May 10, 2026 Here are this week’s Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers for fiction, based on sales in hundreds of independent bookstores nationwide, generously provided by the American Booksellers Association.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Hong Kong — For the past three decades, China has been a nation of homeowners — supercharging the world’s second-largest economy and fulfilling the dreams of millions.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
-
The first dream had vanished within two weeks of his arrival.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Keeping track of the other, less consequential games may then only appeal to sports bettors and fantasy football players.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
Projects in development span the genres of romance, drama, horror, action and fantasy.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Nina, Karen and Caroline started appearing in my daydreams, full of vigor and life lessons.—
Jennifer Acker,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
-
Some stories plant deep in your creative brain and come out through songs heard on the radio and random daydreams in the shower.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Samsung operates 12 fabrication lines, employs over 260,000 people worldwide, and is investing $73 billion in semiconductor capex and R&D this year alone, the largest single-year chip investment by any company in history.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
17 May 2026
-
The Gemert bike bridge vividly illustrates how digital fabrication can cut waste.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Mesidor is the part that will allow that vision to materialize.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
For one, the Frenchie vision is just corny and clumsy, and so is the idea of Kimiko harnessing the power of love to defeat the bad guy without succumbing to vengeful rage.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Because either McCluskie is one heck of a con man who rolled both Becerra and Williamson, making both believe what was happening was kosher with entirely different tales, or someone isn’t being entirely honest.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
-
The bittersweet tale infused with humor and sadness chimed with the Cannes audience.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Figment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/figment. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
