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
Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025
As a bonus, this reusable fake is a fun prop to keep around for make-believe health care provider visits.
—Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 19 Mar. 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
Elizabeth’s character gives Virginia’s child-like character a bath at a certain point, and both of your performances sold this make-believe mother-daughter scenario.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025
As a bonus, this reusable fake is a fun prop to keep around for make-believe health care provider visits.
—Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make-believe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make-believe
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
-
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
Noun
-
The parallels between real life and fiction were haunting.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2025
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To receive The New Yorker’s prize-winning journalism, photography, and short films, along with podcasts, cartoons, fiction, and more, sign up for our daily newsletter.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
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
Noun
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From meditation to simulations, the crew has been preparing since their adventure was announced in late February.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
14 Apr. 2025
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The bank is also using AI to power over one million interactive simulations annually, aiding employees in client interactions.—
Gene Marks,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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In the series, Sephora becomes a sponsor for the fictional Los Angeles Waves basketball team, of which Kate Hudson’s character becomes the president.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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These ivory pieces, showing signs of intentional modification, may represent the earliest evidence of deliberate ivory processing, possibly crafted by children as imitations of tools.—
Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
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People can learn what's acceptable and what's not through observation and imitation, and talking about other people's experiences can act as a warning sign for ourselves.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This relic of constitutional law, which the Supreme Court hasn’t taken seriously since its quiet death in the New Deal era, is more mythical than historical—holding, more or less, that Congress cannot delegate its lawmaking power to another branch of government.—
Cristian Farias,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
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This name originates from a Greek myth. Eunice: Another historic Greek name, the mythical Eunice was the sea-nymph daughter of Nereus and Doris.—
Lydia Wang,
Parents,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The wolf has a big representation for Shakira’s identity.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
10 Apr. 2025
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By all accounts Joanna James is a visionary and tireless advocate for female representation at the highest levels in the competitive hospitality and restaurant industries.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Make-believe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make-believe. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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